This is just an idea, i need to change my fuel pump. Of course i would have to drop my rear end to get the tank out. What if i just cut a hole in the floor boards above the fuel tank. would i be able to get at it then. This would be much cheaper and easier. All you would have to do is weld the floor back up. Is this possible and has any one done this?

thanks
jake

 

My friend did that. He took out the back seats and all the carpetting then cut a big hole behind the seats. He had the fuel pump out and a new one in within half an hour. He then added clips all over the back so he could easily change it again without having to recut.

 

Thanks for the info, this sounds much easier and i may do this.
If anyone else has any experiences with this please post it.

 

Another friend of mine did the same thing to his 82 Firebird
and said it was easy.. he also did something to make it so he can easily get back into it again when needed.

But I'm not sure what..

If anyone could make a diagram somehow showing this
procedure.. that would be VERY useful.

 

IMO its a bad idea. You should just do the job right.

I wouldnt weld it back in, the gas tank is right there. Vapor+Flame=Bad

 

I also think that this is a bad idea

Unibody - chunk of sheet metal = bad

 

I replaced my in-tank pump back in '97.. July 4th weekend.

I replaced it AGAIN last summer.

Both times, I dropped the exhaust/axle/tank down and out, with the car on jackstands, on my driveway. I'd rather do it the "right" way than cut the back of the car up and risk an explosion. If this pump goes again, I'm going to give Pep Boys hell, and I'll be dropping the axle down again.

HINT: Replace those tank-to-car hoses while you've got it all apart!! The non-pressure hoses (vent, charcoal canister, fuel return line) can be replaced with regular 'ol fuel hose. But the pressure hose is a special order part # from GM that takes a week or so to come in- I wanted to replace it last summer, but it would've taken too long to order.

 

why do you need a GM piece?

all you should need is 3/8" fuel injection high pressure fuel hose

 

Theres a saginaw flare on each end of the hose. You'd need to cut the lines on the car, bubble the ends so the hose dont blow off, and then put the piece of FI line on it. An option, but IMO not a great one.

 

why isn't that a great option?

flaring the line or as you say "bubbling" and use some fuel injection hose works just as fine. When i had to splice in an inline pump for my blower i had to cut the stock fuel line and flare the feed line and put fuel injection line over it and i ran close to 90psi of fuel pressure and never had a leak

 

Hm. Never thought of doing it that way. I was just thinking "I see a hose, lets replace the hose." I always wondered; is there any way to make our own pressure hoses without spending a fortune? Such as power steering hoses, fuel hoses, etc? Does anyone sell fittings? I don't think all those race hoses (earls & aeroquip and etc) are meant for high pressure, are they? Are they even compatible with the GM pipe threads?

 

Accel sells TPI to AN fittings. I use them on my lines coming into the engine bay. Are the rubber lines coming off the tank the same size? They appear to be, I never really took a good look though.

If they are the same size fitting you could buy the TPI->AN fittings for like $30 and run braided steel lines.

Hmm, that just gave me an idea, I'm gonna go under there and see what size the hose fittings are...

 

Those Accel fittings are WAAAAAAY overpriced

i found this place that sells just about every fitting you'll ever need:

www.anplumbing.com

 

Why? Not everyone owns a pipe cutter and flaring tool. I know I dont, I have always borrowed them. I think just about everyone here has a couple wrenches. Not to mention the POS saginaw flare is still less prone to leaking or coming off completely. I know most of us are only running 50psi, which in the grand scheme of pressure fittings isnt much, but I prefer overkill myself.

As for making your own hoses, forget it. 99% of the time in the end, it costs more than a pre-made line if one exists. We had a couple really nice machines at work for making pressure lines (AC, PS, even made a couple fuel lines) and when you add up the cost of the fittings and labor, not to mention the hose, its more than a pre-made by far. Its great though when stuff isnt available or you are doing custom work.