I need to replace the fuel pump but I just spent all day trying to get the "friggin" gas tank out and it still hanging in there. I have removed the muffler and loosened the stabalizer bars but I can't get the tank at the correct angle to worm the spout out( I have removed the fuel door and the case). The upper stabalizer bolt, the nut is removed, won't release even with a serious torque rachet. If I can get that upper bar I might be able to achieve the angle and do the quick pump replace. Any ideas on this would be great.

 

I had the same problem in my Camaro. What I determined is yyou can't drop the tank out with out removing the whole rear axel. What I manage to do is get the tank positioned so that it tilts down and rests on an angle, the low side being the passanger side. and there was "Just" enough room to get it all out. I had the body jacked up and the axle lowered as far as I could with out removing the brake lines. I also had the rear suspension out, and the exhaust pulled out the side. I hope this helps.. If I ever have to do this again I'm going to look into a external pump instead. These cars should have had an access hatch from inside the rear hatch..

 

this might be alittle too late to suggest. I've heard people taking out the rear carpet,cutting a hole where the fuel pump is located. from there you can change the pump without dropping everything underneith.

 

ummm....yea that is also a REAL dangerous short-cut. Sparks+fumes=EXPLOSION....why take the chance...it is not worth it...although I might be wrong, I have been before...

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Don't go cutting holes...Not at all worth it, and just as much work actually.

You will need to drop your whole rear axle. Put a floor jack under the rear case, remove your driveshaft from the rear, remove the wheels, disconnect your brake lines, end links, and shocks. Be very careful when you remove everything, because the rear will want to shift forward when you do the final step of removing the LCA's where they connect to the axle. Move the rear out of the way, and your tank will come right out.

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86 Trans Am WS6 Black with tinted windows, ZZ4, Mini-ram, true duals, LT4 HotCam, AFR 195 heads.
***Too many other mods to mention***

"In the future, cities will become deserts,
roads will become battlefields, and the hope of mankind
will appear as a stranger" The Road Warrior

 

dont cut or torch its not easy at all just drop everything like you have it then instaed of the torch or cutting thing. i just bent the filler neck real slow and then put it back and rebent it back the same way it was meant to bend thats why the filler neck is ribbed.

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89 firebird formula


360 10:1compression (350 .060 over)/fully balnced and blueprinted
comp cams xe262 cam
performer rpm intake/port matched to heads
#1405edlebrock 600
sportsman 2 heads 64cc 2.02/1.60 valves 200cc intake runner/cnc pocket ported
msd 6al/msd8.5 super condutor wires
h.e.i. proform 50,000 volt vac. advance ditributor
700r-4 with 3.08 first gear and 3.23 posi 7 5/8 rear end.
b trans shift kit(will kill shifts...suck dong!!)
shorty heddman hedders with custom 3" pipe y-pipe back(no damn cat!) with 40 series flowmaster!
griffin daul1" core rad.cutom fabrication to fit(but no cutting )


future mods: 406 roller REALLY REALLY REALLY RADICAL!!!!!

 

Yeah, the passenger side of the tank needs to take an "extreme" dive towards the ground... dropping the axle will do it. I recall I also had to bend my filler neck a bit; that tank didn't want to come down without a fight!


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

The job has been done!! Don't remove the whole rear axle! The fill pipe is ribbed and ment to be bent, if you remove everything but the axle and with the tank almost out go ahead and bend the fill pipe it will happen. This was the hardest thing I have ever done to this car, and my father who used to be a mechanic said this was the hardest fuel pump he has ever changed, and next time I will pay to have somebody else do it. Thanks for your replies though but by the time I got them the job was done. Actually the hard part was getting the exhaust out of the way, it was a nightmare to get loose!!!