So I replace my GTA s fuel pump and finally got it off to a body shop for repaint. With it gone I thought let's get the formula running. Only has 20-30 psi fuel pressure and runs like crap . I was pretty mad i have to do it all over again on this car however while digging around in the trunk removing subwoofer wires, I peeled back the carpet to find this...

Sheet metal screws

Poorly measured cuts

Crease from where it was bent over
now i don't know who the owners before me were but I certainly would have tried to make this cleaner if I was going to do this to a car.

Can any one on here make a solid suggestion on where to cut to either expand the hole past the previous treachery or what I could do to clean it up as it is. The other examples of fuel trap doors that I have found on here are much cleaner but started with smaller holes. I did this the old fashion way on the other cars but since this is already messed up... On a yellow 92 Formula too 😢

Unbelievable how many people are so eager to do this hack job. I don't remember it being nearly as common until the mid-2000s, now it seems like a lot of thirdgens are running around with a hacked trunk.

To be honest that one looks better than a lot that have been posted. If it were me, I'd clean out all the garbage, and either weld everything back together and grind it all smooth, or I'd replace the damaged steel. That is, if I were going to do anything more aggressive than tucking the carpet back down and forgetting I ever noticed it'd been hacked. You could enlarge the hole, add some beads as necessary for strength, or a reinforcement around the cut out, then devise a removable cover, but honestly I think I'd sooner restore it and live without the hole I'd never use.

Changing the pump every so often the right way, keeps the bolts and whatnot from corroding into place. I think I'd rather error on the side of taking everything apart once every dozen years than trying to work through a hacked hole.

That makes me sad. I saw a guy on FB posting that he worked at a dealership that let and promoted this type of "repair". ugh. I'll bet your sending unit tubes are cut up too.

Looks totaled to me, let me know how much you want for it.

I decided to open the hole and see the work done. In fact there is just a hole. The fuel lines have not been cut, the pump is not stock but it still begs the question... Why cut up a rare car? The RPO code / storage box in the rear had a fuel pump relay so I assume the previous owner knew something was wrong. Distributor plugs and wires all new too. I'm betting the pump is a 305 tbi pump. Oh and when I pull on the exhaust to wiggle it loose. Well,




Had to get it out the right way anyway

it came loose.

Friggin spectra sp1114 pump. For L4 and 5.0tbi. it's a TPI, Shame on you previous owner 😠

If we're going to put the wrong parts in this car we might as well throw in a lm7 with a blower or a 90s LT5. I don't have a T-ram like on some of the threads i follow 😉

That poor car, wrong pump and way to small replacement exhaust. Glad they got cold feet and didn't cut the sending unit up!!
Time to find a SLP totl catback for it.

This would be my recommendation too. I have a base 92 JAMAICA (not Jamaician) yellow car and I have the hack, I was going to get a cut from another car and weld in the repair with my overhaul, but I ran out of time. One day, if I keep the car that long and paint it, I will weld in new metal.

I would say that this is a good observation and probably why, that and places like Facebook where people are promoting it, and saying it's a safe thing to do when they have no idea what the implications are.

I think you're right. Put me second in line

With the sender being uncut, I think they oversized the hole so they were able to disconnect the lines and squeak the lines past the tank, uncut since there would be enough room at the front there

Are the injs original?

They look original. I really can't know as the previous owner wouldnt tell me anything about the car.

If they are the gray and silver Rochester units, I'd ohm check them cold and hot. I'd bet you may have a bad one or 2.

I have some old LT1 injectors i could throw in for the time being, they all read around 13.

Yeah, a new set would really be the way to go.

​​​​​​Took your advice, got a set of new smp f101 injectors cheap enough. All new plugs, New oil pressure sender, New oil and new air filter. It started right up had a high idle, I put it in gear and had a knocking sound put in back in park, checked the oil which was fine. Started it again and it ran great. Drove it around and it had lots of 305 power and now problems. I'll try driving it to work tomorrow and see how it goes.