Fuel Pump install - Access door Yea/Nay? - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

The_Bishop · 05-30-2013, 12:35 PM

So I'm here looking at my racetronix pump and hotwire kit. I'm probably going to tackle this next week once the temps drop to a tolerable level.

Have any of you cut an access panel for the fuel pump? Looks to be a smart way to do it for future fuel pump changes. Any cons to doing this?

sweetbmxrider · 05-30-2013, 12:46 PM

The_Bishop · 05-30-2013, 12:50 PM

What's with the facepalm?

sweetbmxrider · 05-30-2013, 12:57 PM

What's so hard about dropping the tank and not hacking your car up? If you do a clean access door after with proper sealing then I guess I can accept the hack attack.

WildBillyT · 05-30-2013, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Bishop

So I'm here looking at my racetronix pump and hotwire kit. I'm probably going to tackle this next week once the temps drop to a tolerable level.

Have any of you cut an access panel for the fuel pump? Looks to be a smart way to do it for future fuel pump changes. Any cons to doing this?

How frequently do you plan on changing your fuel pump?

deadtrend1 · 05-30-2013, 01:06 PM

I would not cut a hole. Yours a bit harder since its a 98 but its not hard to drop the tank. In the driveway

LTb1ow · 05-30-2013, 01:07 PM

Are you not a firefighter?

The_Bishop · 05-30-2013, 01:15 PM

BMX - Well,I was thinking about the trap door, but I'm also here soliciting opinions. Being as the overall consensus is towards, "WTF, ARE YOU RETARDED NO" I'm now probably going to end up dropping the tank.

WildbillyT - After this time? Hopefully never.

LTB1ow - Saw your fuel pump shenanigans post from way back, it made me think twice. If I was going to cut it would have not been a cutoff wheel. I might be crazy, but I'm not stupid.

LTb1ow · 05-30-2013, 01:17 PM

Well, you know the general consensus of the above 21+ group, its a hack and a half in my eyes and just adds a risk to things.

But again, its only gasoline in a tank, worked fine for pintos I read.

WildBillyT · 05-30-2013, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Bishop

BMX - Well,I was thinking about the trap door, but I'm also here soliciting opinions. Being as the overall consensus is towards, "WTF, ARE YOU RETARDED NO" I'm now probably going to end up dropping the tank.

WildbillyT - After this time? Hopefully never.

LTB1ow - Saw your fuel pump shenanigans post from way back, it made me think twice. If I was going to cut it would have not been a cutoff wheel. I might be crazy, but I'm not stupid.

A bunch of guys got a bad run of Walbro pumps (or not even authentic Walbros) which lead to "mad crazy fuel pump shens".

If you're only changing it once, drop the tank.

sweetbmxrider · 05-30-2013, 01:25 PM

I think I'm on #4 or #5, not a single hole was cut. If you have a 10 bolt its real easy. Just undo the shocks and phb and t/a and let it pivot all the way forward on the lcas. That should give enough room to angle the tank out by yourself. Probably the only pain would be a stubborn exhaust.

The_Bishop · 05-30-2013, 01:35 PM

LTB1ow - Yeah. Just was under the car looking at it, aside from dropping the exhaust it doesn't look *too* bad. If my friend's lift wasn't a 'drive on' style it would be a no brainer. Guess I'll be on my back in the driveway with the car on jackstands.

I guess I was trying to justify the 'hack'.

WildBillyT - I bought the kit directly from Racetronix, so I'm hoping that helps with the fake pump problem.

BMX - Ok, Ok - You convinced me.

PolarBear · 05-30-2013, 01:40 PM

Someone did that hack in my 3rd gen. I plan on welding the hole closed and get it "stock" again in the future

deadtrend1 · 05-30-2013, 01:41 PM

Remember to also remove gas cap and plastic surround in fuel door. Also take out the bolts that hold the brake and fuel lines to the frame.

LTb1ow · 05-30-2013, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deadtrend1

Remember to also remove gas cap and plastic surround in fuel door. Also take out the bolts that hold the brake and fuel lines to the frame.

What?

Just undo the quick connects for the plastic lines up to the tank. Unless something is different for 98s, I never touched brake lines in the many times I did fuel pumps on mine.

Blackbirdws6 · 05-30-2013, 02:04 PM

Proper way to do it is by dropping the tank as mentioned. Like anything else, if you have never done it before, it will take you longer than others more familiar with the process have stated.

I did the trap door and made a nice plate to seal it all up. Yes, you can call it a "hack" but I did it for ease of future troubleshooting. Especially considering I get to play with two pumps and not just one that can go bad.

deadtrend1 · 05-30-2013, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LTb1ow

What?

Just undo the quick connects for the plastic lines up to the tank. Unless something is different for 98s, I never touched brake lines in the many times I did fuel pumps on mine.

So when you drop the rear it doesnt put tension on the brake lines bolted to the body.

LTb1ow · 05-30-2013, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackbirdws6

Proper way to do it is by dropping the tank as mentioned. Like anything else, if you have never done it before, it will take you longer than others more familiar with the process have stated.

I did the trap door and made a nice plate to seal it all up. Yes, you can call it a "hack" but I did it for ease of future troubleshooting. Especially considering I get to play with two pumps and not just one that can go bad.

Don't try and justify yourself here pal.

Blackbirdws6 · 05-30-2013, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LTb1ow

Don't try and justify yourself here pal.

Not trying to justify it, just stating what went through my head. Not like I plan on selling the car to anyone else that would care. I give a few of you guys who got whiplashed credit for dropping the tank as many times as you have.

Dudbird113 · 05-30-2013, 04:06 PM

I dropped mine out one the garage floor, no lift needed. Not even that hard to remove, just make sure the tanks empty.

The_Bishop · 05-30-2013, 05:47 PM

Yeah, doing that now by using the car to run errands. Got to drop about 1/4 tank more.

MyFirstZ · 05-30-2013, 07:10 PM

I'd cut the panel. You can buy door from any manufacture that uses access panels from inside the car. I'll be using one from a BMW when it comes time.

Dudbird113 · 05-31-2013, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Bishop

Yeah, doing that now by using the car to run errands. Got to drop about 1/4 tank more.

Not sure if its on the 98+ bodies but if you dont empty the tank all the way you could always run the pump by jumping the fuel pump prime connector by the pcm just needs a 12v source ran to it. I jumped mine and undid the fuel line at the filter and let it piss into a fuel can

BonzoHansen · 05-31-2013, 08:38 AM

imo a proper door is ok - of course cut while the tank is out of the car. but it gets back to how many fuel pumps do you plan on changing.

PolarBear · 05-31-2013, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

imo a proper door is ok - of course cut while the tank is out of the car. but it gets back to how many fuel pumps do you plan on changing.

As much as I would actually agree with this the whole point of them NOT putting in an access is for fire protection. If the car gets hit hard enough in the rear that area will deform.

That would be MY reasoning for call that a hack on anything other than a dedicated racecar