Ok i know the two options. Drop the axle or cut the hole. What i would like to know is..does the axle have to come all the way out or can i just unbolt the panhard bar, and shocks and drop it down enough to clear the tank? Im not too much of a fan of cutting the hole and now im really kicking myself for not replacing the pump when i had the car apart a week ago.

Pump makes a good amount of noise after having driven for a bit. Then you turn it off and let it cool down and its a bit quieter, then gets louder after driving for a bit. Granted i dont have the rear seat in to muffle the sound anymore but does that sound normal to anyone? Other than the noise the car has run perfect with no misses or anything.

 

Its going to be noisy if your seats and carpeting is out, but check your fuel pressure and if you come to find out its no good and just had the rearend out then drop the tank. If you plan on keeping her for a long time fabricate a fuel door and clean the tank while its down.

 

Im pretty sure my fuel pressure is a solid 49 or 50. I have an afpr from TPIS. As i said car runs mint its just the noisy pump that makes me wonder whats up. Not so sure how safe it is to wait for the pump to die either. Im leaning towards waiting since i had just dropped the rear two weeks ago. Thanks for the quick reply btw.

 

My pump made some horrible thumping noises before it went and it still works for a little while at a time. I would say drive it until it goes cuz droppin that tank is a mother *#$% I still dont get why the hell they designed these cars as if the fuel pump would never die! Iv had to put fuel pumps in a few cars and never found it to be as hard as this. Iv heard of ppl just putting the car on jackstands and letting the rear end hang as far as it would and un bolting the traction bar and panhard bar cutting the exhaust off and dropping the tank

 

yea thats what im figuring im going to do at this point. Its not hurting anything and i dont feel like dropping the axle and tank right now.

 

Make sure it's not a restriction (bad fuel filter or crushed line).

 

Its got a relatively new fuel filter. Also if it was getting restricted somewhere im pretty sure my fuel pressure would fall off drastically at high RPMs which isnt the case. Car runs like normal. Thats why i figure ill just wait till it dies to do something about it. To much effort right now.

 

where would one cut a hole to replace a pump should one decide to go this route? and what tool would one use to cut this "hole"? any issues of stabbing the tank and what have you (i dont mean to jack this forum but i dont wanna drop all the crap either... and i can weld )

 

Cutting the hole isn't a problem....Cutting the lines with the tank still in is.

The hard lines to the pump pick up assembly go to the front edge of the tank, then all the way over to the drivers side, then down some, before there is any connection.

So...The first time you will hafta pull the tank to cut the lines. After that, you won't hafta pull the tank the next time, or if you decide to upgrade your pump at some time.

 

that is so weak!!! i dont wanna!!!!!

 

Planning to weld it back up with the tank (and 4 cut and spliced) fuel lines under it? Make sure your life insurance is paid up first. :-)

No one ever regrets doing it right.

 

Hi Guys, I recently replaced my fuel pump (in tank) and it really is a "son of a &^%#)%! " Now it is loud particularly when hot. Sound familiar?

I cut a hole directly above the tank where the lines run into the tank-No Bueno! Had to seal and rivet a steel plate over it. Ended up dropping the rear suspension and pulling the tank out then beating that sucker back in. I think I'd rather clean "Porta-Potties" by sucking them dry with a straw before I'd do that again!

You would have to remove the rear seats and cut a huge slot back there to get it out. Those lines are fixed in the collar and will not move. Also, you have to be sure you load the pump into the tank properly. It slides into a baffle in the rear of the tank with the float. It's a bear.

I am also looking to replace it with an in-line pump that is quieter. Still looking too.

 

I used a Dremmel with metal cutting wheels but the hole I cut was directly above where the lines go into the tank-and that was wrong. Had to seal it back up. Then did exactly what I didn't want to do-drop the tank. A "bar fight" is more like it. Getting it out then getting it in. Take it to a shop. Rob the local 7-11 for the money if you need it. Taking the risk of getting arrested for armed robbery is much easier to contemplate than pulling that tank out!

 

We had to measure twice and cut once. Look for the hanging assembly, and make more than enough room... Youll have to cut farther than you first percieve, and much wider, trust me...
On my boy's car, I used an air rotary cut off wheel. Hand held with the air trigger under the fingers. I had to change the wheel once or twice, but you can buy them pretty cheap at oreilly auto parts, in the tool isle. Ususally on the bottom shelf. As far as the tool itself, I bought one at Oreillys and one from Harbor freight. Both work rather well. One could put a "piano hinge" on the "door" you just cut out and some kind of low profile latch like a dzeus fastener... Just some ideas....

/YL