The fuel pump on my 92RS needs to be replaced. I have two choices, either drop the tank or cut an access panel. What would you guys do? Has anyone cut an access panel?? How successful was it? Thanks in advance.

 

I wouldnt cut on the tank at all. The first spark could be the last you see. I would drop the tank, no question.

 

RS,

Personally, I'd drop the tank. It's the more difficult way to do it, but it's also the right way to do it.

There may not be anything wrong with cutting the floor pan, but it certainly doesn't add any rigidity to an otherwise suspect area of the car, and introduces areas that can start to corrode and flex even further, causing stres failures. If you're just driving on the street and don't push the car very hard, cutting a hole and fabricating a patch is probably O.K.

If you want to keep the floor pan intact for strength and original quality, and want to have an opportunity to clean out the tank of all the junk that probably caused the pump to fail, remove the tank.

You have to decide the best method for you.

By the way, Welcome Aboard!

 

it isn't as hard as you might think. i was suprised how easy it was to R&R the tank.

 

I would have to agree with Vader. If you have any love or appreciation at all for your ride, I sure wouldn't carve up the floorpan to change the fuel pump. The hardest part is figuring out the right angle to get the tank at to get it to drop down once you have everything out of the way. They should've put a removable filler neck on them. That's where the problem lies because the filler neck runs through the rear frame rail. Once you get the right angle though, it comes right out. With decent tools, you should be able to complete the job in an afternoon. An impact wrench comes in really handy to hasten undoing the suspension and exhaust pieces. The first time is always the hardest of course. I could probably do the whole job in two hours or less these days.

 

took me 2 whole days...6 hours spent trying to get the tank out before i relized the shock stuck on the rear end and was stopping it from going down any futher...jacked it up a hair got the shock outta the way and the tank came right out...i felt retarded...i think it would only take me 3 hours or so now...hope i dont have to do it again anytime soon tho just get a haynes repair manual...tells you the basics for the procedure