Access door to change fuel pump - 4th Gen
#91
Re: Access door to change fuel pump - 4th Gen
I am going to. I found my car had the door cut along the sides and rear - but not cut along the rear seat line. Thy installed a latch with a screw - so they could turn the screw, pull up the original tin, and bend it back down then latch closed. I just used it and was happy to find it
I'm going to add a hinge after I make the cut out a little bigger to get at the hoses.
"do it right" should mean creating a quality trap door - as the engineers should have. I just worked on a $50k Porsche - and it has a trap door to access the fuel pump from the factory.
The only good reasons for dropping the tank is to drain/clean/modify the tank.
My .02
I'm going to add a hinge after I make the cut out a little bigger to get at the hoses.
"do it right" should mean creating a quality trap door - as the engineers should have. I just worked on a $50k Porsche - and it has a trap door to access the fuel pump from the factory.
The only good reasons for dropping the tank is to drain/clean/modify the tank.
My .02
#92
Re: Access door to change fuel pump - 4th Gen
i was curious for those that have made the access door, did you have to drain the gas tank or does this mod keep you from having to do so and only have to relieve the pressure. thanks in advance
#93
Re: Access door to change fuel pump - 4th Gen
Be very careful as you now have open exposure to gasoline in your trunk!!!!
If the factory made the car this way, all owners would brag about it
#94
Re: Access door to change fuel pump - 4th Gen
i was looking on this site and they have this photo comparing the new fuel pump to the old one. my question is. do you put the new pump back in the plastic container that is to the left in this photo.
http://www.taekwondoplus.org/z28/stockpumpwalbro02.jpg
the reason i ask is because in this second photo he has it all connected ready to go in tank and doesn't have the pump in the plastic container.
http://www.taekwondoplus.org/z28/walbro04.jpg
http://www.taekwondoplus.org/z28/stockpumpwalbro02.jpg
the reason i ask is because in this second photo he has it all connected ready to go in tank and doesn't have the pump in the plastic container.
http://www.taekwondoplus.org/z28/walbro04.jpg
#95
Re: Access door to change fuel pump - 4th Gen
i was looking on this site and they have this photo comparing the new fuel pump to the old one. my question is. do you put the new pump back in the plastic container that is to the left in this photo.
http://www.taekwondoplus.org/z28/stockpumpwalbro02.jpg
the reason i ask is because in this second photo he has it all connected ready to go in tank and doesn't have the pump in the plastic container.
http://www.taekwondoplus.org/z28/walbro04.jpg
http://www.taekwondoplus.org/z28/stockpumpwalbro02.jpg
the reason i ask is because in this second photo he has it all connected ready to go in tank and doesn't have the pump in the plastic container.
http://www.taekwondoplus.org/z28/walbro04.jpg
I put a pair of pumps in my tank without the bucket (because they won't fit)- the pumps were completely submerged in fuel with about 1/4 tank of gas.
#96
Re: Access door to change fuel pump - 4th Gen
I did mine with the door and it took me 20 min to cut the hole and r/r the pump, doesn't hurt thr strutural integrity of the car, its not seen without removing the carpet, I don't see any negative drawback from cutting the floor.
#97
Re: Access door to change fuel pump - 4th Gen
Not sure if I am supposed to post to a sticky? If not, oops, sorry.
I am planning on installing the new racetronix kit (pump and wire harness) and have three questions:
1) will this work for a convertible - the interior sheet metal and fuel tank looks the same - but I am not sure as I have a trunk well as well as what I think is additional cross bracing where the upper shock mounts are. Can any convertible owners chime in with success or extra tips?
2) also installing the wiring kit from racetronix and I assuming this can be done with a fish tape. If not do I end up having to drop the tank anyways?
3) want to verify I do not have the pictures backwards -- the access port cut starts right behind the rear seats.
I am planning on installing the new racetronix kit (pump and wire harness) and have three questions:
1) will this work for a convertible - the interior sheet metal and fuel tank looks the same - but I am not sure as I have a trunk well as well as what I think is additional cross bracing where the upper shock mounts are. Can any convertible owners chime in with success or extra tips?
2) also installing the wiring kit from racetronix and I assuming this can be done with a fish tape. If not do I end up having to drop the tank anyways?
3) want to verify I do not have the pictures backwards -- the access port cut starts right behind the rear seats.
#98
Re: Access door to change fuel pump - 4th Gen
Thanks, I will take some photos and update this for a convertible specific "sub-sticky".
Couple more photos in my garage. The cross brace that the convertibles have behind the rear sets prevents you from cutting as far forward as the coupes. As a result you do not have a long enough cut (short by about an inch) and the pump is tricky to get in and out. In addition to the cut, you will need to loosen/remove the tank straps (15mm) at the front of the tank and allow the tank to drop down about 3/4" for additional finger access for the fuel connections. Takes some patience to get them off but can be done. Also when removing the pump you will have to finesse the lines out of the access hole; lift the pump slightly and rotate and slide it as far back as you can in the tank (careful on electrical connection in the top of the fuel unit) and use a slight push on the fuel lines to get the fuel lines out of the access hole one at a time.
This is not an issue I suspect in the coupes as the cut can extend an inch or two farther forward and you would have enough room to just lift the pump out.
Couple more photos in my garage. The cross brace that the convertibles have behind the rear sets prevents you from cutting as far forward as the coupes. As a result you do not have a long enough cut (short by about an inch) and the pump is tricky to get in and out. In addition to the cut, you will need to loosen/remove the tank straps (15mm) at the front of the tank and allow the tank to drop down about 3/4" for additional finger access for the fuel connections. Takes some patience to get them off but can be done. Also when removing the pump you will have to finesse the lines out of the access hole; lift the pump slightly and rotate and slide it as far back as you can in the tank (careful on electrical connection in the top of the fuel unit) and use a slight push on the fuel lines to get the fuel lines out of the access hole one at a time.
This is not an issue I suspect in the coupes as the cut can extend an inch or two farther forward and you would have enough room to just lift the pump out.
Last edited by pgerst; 09-20-2011 at 08:52 AM.
#99
Re: Access door to change fuel pump - 4th Gen
This thread is full of great info on this subject. I suspect that my pump has gone out and that I will be needing to make the change and this mod will make it so much easier to do.
#100
Re: Access door to change fuel pump - 4th Gen
How many of you have done this, i really am leary about doing it this way, but under the circumstances, i'm at my wits end, story is, i just installed a new pump (walbro knock-off) when i installed my 9", now it looks like this pump isn't working right, so after all this, i'm just not in the mood to be dropping the rearend & pulling the tank again, so do you think its safe enough? also looking for the measurements on where to cut the door & tools needed.
I've thought about just addeing a inline pump, but not sure if it'll work right, this would save me alot of hassle, bad idea?
I've thought about just addeing a inline pump, but not sure if it'll work right, this would save me alot of hassle, bad idea?
#101
Re: Access door to change fuel pump - 4th Gen
It took me about the same amount of time to make the hole. And i have worked on my pump a couple times since then, so i am damn glad all I had to do was pull back the carpet and unbolt the hatch. I don't have any reservations whatsoever about this not hurting the car in some way.
#102
Re: Access door to change fuel pump - 4th Gen
We're getting ready to do this on my son's '95 Camaro... as far as I can tell, there's no reason to screw the cover plate down, right? We're using a 'repurposed' parking sign that we had laying around as the trap door cover. I don't see any reason that RTV alone wouldn't hold that in place just fine.
After years of people doing this, does anyone have any regrets at all about it? I know people still argue about damaging the value of the car blah blah blah but I'm talking about functionally? Nobody's car collapsed from the structural breach, exploded from the trap door, etc? Functionally, this is the best plan if you dismiss the 'don't hack a hole in it' nay sayers?
After years of people doing this, does anyone have any regrets at all about it? I know people still argue about damaging the value of the car blah blah blah but I'm talking about functionally? Nobody's car collapsed from the structural breach, exploded from the trap door, etc? Functionally, this is the best plan if you dismiss the 'don't hack a hole in it' nay sayers?
#103
Re: Access door to change fuel pump - 4th Gen
PS- I also have a '97 true SS car and I did NOT hack a hole in it for that reason when I replaced the pump in it. So I can see both sides, but the boy's car is his call.
#104
Re: Access door to change fuel pump - 4th Gen
My thinking was a lot like yours when I bought my car. I wanted to do everything right. Keep it completely stock to retain value. Then I realized I have no plans on ever selling the car. Then the modification bug hit me and went from there.
Last edited by CamaroSS30thAnn; 07-28-2015 at 01:06 PM.
#105
Re: Access door to change fuel pump - 4th Gen
We're getting ready to do this on my son's '95 Camaro... as far as I can tell, there's no reason to screw the cover plate down, right? We're using a 'repurposed' parking sign that we had laying around as the trap door cover. I don't see any reason that RTV alone wouldn't hold that in place just fine.
I would strongly advise using a sealant AND using numerous screws or pop rivets to insure the panel stays in place.
I would also recommend that the cut out hole does not have any "square" corners..... they will serve as stress risers and promote cracking of the sheet metal. Radius the corners.
Super conservative... yes, as a licensed professional engineer, it would be irresponsible of me to state otherwise.