How much clearance is there between the sending unit and the sheetmetal on an 82? just about to cut through to change sender, too much crap to unbolt to get tank out. Anybody tried i?

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1966 c10 panel
1968 c20 350, 350
1982 camaro 305, th200

 

there has been a lot of debate about this. a lot of people feel you'll weaken the structure if you cut a hole in the sheet metal. others have done it with no noticable problems. i believe moroso makes a door the fix the hole. it's more for fuel cells but it'd work. there should be about a 1 or 1 1/2 between the floor and the fuel tank.

 

I belive the steel fuel lines run from the sender (in the center of tank) to the drivers side edge of the tank.

This is a ONE PIECE unit, so you would have to cut a big enough hole in the floor for the whole sender and line assembly to come through.

You would need a hole about 2 feet long.......I wouldn't cut it out.

I've heard people talking about trying this but they all end up taking down the rear end.

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ASE Mechanic/Machinist/Smog Tech

1999 NBM Trans Am, flowmaster,FRA,Pro Kit,BMR STB, polished calipers.
1986 Chevy 3/4 ton pick up,flowmasters,4.10s,
1981 corvette FOR SALE
1995 ZX6R,Yosh,D207s

GO #3

 

I'm in the middle of this on an '83 Firebird.

I used a die grinder to cut the sheet metal along the edges of the two center ribs, then across the rear at that center "ripple". That allowed the small flap of metal to be pulled back. That exposed the fuel sender rather well.

As far as the metal fuel lines, I'm going to attempt some modifications to them....I don't know that they will work, but the way I see it, it won't hurt to try!

It's just gonna' take a bit of "hard swallowing" to hack up a new unit!

NM

 

If you don't mind having a hacked up car, I will tell you, many people have done it, succesfully. Although our car is a uni-body, there are structural reinforcments, however, over the fuel sender isn't one, so you shouldn't have structural problems. But personally, I wouldn't hack a huge hole in my car to save a few hours, the damage is pretty hard to fix if you ever wanted to permanatly patch the hole back up.

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"I used to have a handle on life, but then I used it as a plunger and broke it" -The Wave

ASE Master Tech + L1
Savannah, GA
'87 Trans Am-K&N,Cold air induction, SSM SFC, Boxed LCAs, 8mm Accel wires, Flowmaster, 16" GTA rims.
'97 Bonneville SSE
South East Thirdgen