Fuel Pump Access hatch

[K30Blazer]

mods, please delete if this is not ok.

I added a fuel hatch to my blazer build during the rear links and frame install and thought I would throw up a video and blog post on it over on my website. Secure, functional, strong and big enough to provide adequate access. Should have done this years ago.

https://www.merricksgarage.com/posts/2019/3/11/squarebody-fuel-tank-access-panel

 

[76zimmer]

I like that a lot
Mine is similar and allows enough access to the top plate of the tank.

 

[1-ton]

You guys with Blazers are lucky you can do that. Us guys with pick-ups can not do that because the saddle tank pump/sending unit is located right between the cab and the bed.

 

[diesel4me]

Yeah,like GM designed it that way on purpose....

 

[Shawn]

Looks great! I already cut mine using these measurements but can always make it bigger. Do they have different sizes?



Also, how did you seal it up with the uneven ribbed bed floor?

 

[skunked]

@Shawn they have lots of sizes and a variety of shapes. Take a look at the online marine retailers like westmarine.com for ideas and go from there.

 

[Blue85]

Anybody ever use a smooth hatch like that with a ribbed floor? Seems like you could just seal it up with seam sealer, but maybe there's a slicker way? I just made a patch for mine out of ribbed floor metal (bigger than the hole in the floor), put some latex caulk around the perimeter and secured with 4 sheet metal screws. It's just for replacement of the fuel pump, no regular access needed. I tried to make a gasket from sticky foam, but the sheet metal is too flimsy (would work with more screws, I suppose). It all hides under carpet anyway.

Also seems like you could make the door out of the piece you cut out, with careful cutting and fabricating a ribbed flange to go all around the underside.

 

[MetalMulishaMarcus]

Heres the video incase anyone wants to watch.

 

[K30Blazer]

yea, there are obviously tons of ways to make a door. I had my panel cut and planned for about three years to make a door and never did lol. This honestly came out cleaner than anything I could have fab'd up

 

[Blue85]

Obviously you want a much nicer solution with a fuel cell under the floor and no side fill (i.e. use it every day). For stock fuel-fill configurations you just want access to the pump without dropping the tank once every so many years, so we're really talking about 2 different things in this thread.

 

[K30Blazer]

mine isn't a fuel cell. I had just cut a hole for replacing a pump and wanted to make it pretty

 

[cyclic]

Are the measurements the same for the suburban?

 

[Mastiff]

Someone make a kit for the ribbed floor and I'll buy it. My truck is pretty and the interior is line-x'd with no carpet, so I don't want a hack job.

 

[Ned Kelly]

Are the measurements the same for the suburban?

I would also like to know....are the measurements the same for the square Suburban?

 

[muddermilitia]

I would also like to know....are the measurements the same for the square Suburban?

I highly doubt it. If your burb has the 40 gallon tank, it is several inches longer than the 27 or 31 gallon blazer tanks

 

[TJ1978]

What tool do you use to cut the floor with?

 

[Bent77]

I used a cut off wheel on a grinder

 

[TJ1978]

Also, what about uh, not accidentally hitting the fuel lines? How far do you put it in?

 

[beags86]

How far do you put it in?

That's what she said. Bahaha!


Honestly though. I wouldn't do this mod with a tank in place.
Better to drop the tank then to me messing around with hot sparks and fuel.
My .02.

 

[TJ1978]

What if I slide a wet towel over the fuel area above the tank? Is the metal to thick to just cut it with metal scissors?