I cut a fuel pump access panel for my LS engine swap which includes the 4th gen plastic tank. Now I want a framed panel with a better seal. Detroit Speed and Genright make nice panels, but they’re the wrong dimensions. My opening is 13.75“ X 10.5 “. Further research brought me to this guys solution for his ‘89 Trans Am:

https://turbobuick.com/threads/how-t...r-less.265540/

I liked this, and I found a website to order custom cut metals (metalscut4u). I bought 1/8 inch thick stainless steel frame and an aluminum cover plate. I also bought a type 2 fluorosilicone rubber sheet for the seal. I’ve drilled 16 holes into the panel frame. 10 will be used to attach the frame to the car with 3/16” pop rivets. 6 will allow the cover to bolt to the car via rivet nuts. Progress pics:








I appreciate any constructive advice. Hopefully, I’ll finish this week. I have an ‘84 which is before fuel pump bulkhead connectors were added to the frame. Ergo, the wiring through the access hole.

 

 

I think the panel will work fine. Make sure it seals well. I have an 82 that was a carb car. I ran the fuel pump wires along the fuel lines under the car. I would recommend some kind of passthrough for the wires so they are well insulated from compression/chafing. People are hot and cold on the panels. I didn't do one but I feel there're fine if well done. If I have to drop the tank again I'm doing one, F that job.

 

LOL! Exactly what I thought too.

 

Well, I hope it hasn't come to "never discuss politics, religion, or fuel pump access in public". Anyway, I'll definitely protect the wiring and take my time with attaching the frame which is heavier than I anticipated. I had a choice between aluminum, stainless steel, carbon steel, and galvanized steel. I chose 11 gauge stainless steel, and it's been difficult to paint. Maybe I should have chosen galvanized steel.

 

I finished installing the panel. I thought I took a photo from a distance of the plate (lid) attached, but all I have on my phone are close ups. I don’t feel like pull up the carpet again. I painted it to match the color of my car.

 

 

Hi John, here is a thread where another TGO member did a great job of adding an access hatch (his car had been cut prior to his ownership)

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...rect-fuel.html

 

Thanks - I remember reading that while I was searching the form fuel pump panels. There is another write-up with a welded Detroit Speed frame that looked nice. One day, I may get the trap door frame welded to the car body.

The only new info that I can offer is a convenient way to order a custom steel frame. Metalscut4u’s website has a frame template that I could select, and I was able to specify the dimensions. It also let me choose the type of steel.

i bought a Dominator panel from Summit, but it was flimsy. The dimension weren’t quite right either.



I started with the Dominator Panel idea after watching a YouTube video called -Aluminum Access Panel Installed on my LS swapped Dodge Dakota-