hidesertwheelin
1/2 ton status
What is the best and safest way to do it? Do I need to worry about sparks blowing my ass up? I was thinking about using either my 3" air saw or my 4" grinder with a cutting wheel. Is there another way I should do it?
CK5
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Need to cut a hole in my floor to change fuel pump
- Thread starter hidesertwheelin
- Start date
4xcrazy
3/4 ton status
yes, just drop the tank, with the amount of work to cut out a hole, patch it back up or whatever, it only takes about 20-30 mins do completely drop a tank and get the old pump out. Nuther 30 mins to reinstall it and everything is still as was when new.
chevyuser74
1/2 ton status
yes, just drop the tank, with the amount of work to cut out a hole, patch it back up or whatever, it only takes about 20-30 mins do completely drop a tank and get the old pump out. Nuther 30 mins to reinstall it and everything is still as was when new.
30 minutes? u obviously dont have a skid plate or have rust lol
4xcrazy
3/4 ton status
yes, a Burb too with that big azz tank
,,, just that i have had more than one of before, i would guess maybe 45 mins for the first time, lube the hell out of those bolts and let'em soak. it's really not that bad to drop it, alittle more of a pain if you have a decent amount of fuel in it, but even still, use a floor jack, and a few pieces of wood, and a helper to assist in lowering it, remove all the gas when it's on the ground so it's easier to reinstall.Not only the rusty skid plates but breaking those stupid straps and posibly breaking the sending unit if its all rusty. I always used a drill to start the hole then a sawzall at a sharp angle so you're not banging into the tank. Sawzall way less sparks
I went ahead and cut an access hole in the floor of my Burb. I know it's hack, but I was in a pinch and did not have the energy to drop the tank at the time. It's hard to squeeze the tank past the dual exhaust and it's a real bear getting at the fuel lines (and I even have long skinny arms).
Anyway, I used an air hammer with a 3-finger cutting bit, so there were no sparks. I was careful on where I cut, in order to stay clear of floor bracing, and make the hole big enough the first time. On install, I made mounting flanges for the section that was cut out, then screwed the panel down. It was then covered with sealing tape around the perimeter. Nice and strong, no fumes.
Anyway, I used an air hammer with a 3-finger cutting bit, so there were no sparks. I was careful on where I cut, in order to stay clear of floor bracing, and make the hole big enough the first time. On install, I made mounting flanges for the section that was cut out, then screwed the panel down. It was then covered with sealing tape around the perimeter. Nice and strong, no fumes.
A mechanic friend of mine quotes two prices. One for the hole, and one for dropping the tank, if stock.
If its not stock, the hole price stays the same, but the tank drop becomes undetermined.
The reason? A guy brought his nice shiny truck in and did not want the hole cut. When they got it on the rack, they discovered that he had had a nice custom receiver hitch installed.
Welded!!
They called him back, he said no hole.
So they placed plates on the side of the flanges, clamped them and drilled holes through both plates and flanges.
Then Sawzalled the flanges in two, took the bumper off because it was welded to it, dropped the tank, fixed the pump, put it all back on and used the plates with grade 8 bolts to reattach the flanges.
Basically it tied up one of his lifts all day, plus one of his techs all day.
Guy didn't squawk though. Then....
Later, I was in a bait and tackle store and he was telling everybody what a cheat my friend was.
I'm particular, I don't have many friends, so I tend to be just a little protective of the ones I have.
This guy's problem was that my mechanic friend had LOTS of friends.
He fixes old folks cars for free, he will come out at 2 in the morning to help you, that sort of thing.
I didn't judge the mood of the 7 or 8 guys standing around listening to this correctly.
I was doing a slow burn, and started walking toward this crumb.
As I did, I informed them loudly what the guy had insisted on and why he had been charged what he was.
I never got to him.
A VERY large man put out one arm and stopped me.
He reached into a bait can on the counter and came out with a handful of earthworms and held it out to the prick.
He told him he had two choices. Apologize, or take in the earthworms. And it would not be his choice which orifice was used.
Everybody else in the room was strangely standing between him and the door......
Anyway, before I got distracted.....I don't know what my friend uses, but he has thin plywood templates of the most popular truck beds with the holes marked, so anybody in the shop can do it right the first time.
J.
If its not stock, the hole price stays the same, but the tank drop becomes undetermined.
The reason? A guy brought his nice shiny truck in and did not want the hole cut. When they got it on the rack, they discovered that he had had a nice custom receiver hitch installed.
Welded!!
They called him back, he said no hole.
So they placed plates on the side of the flanges, clamped them and drilled holes through both plates and flanges.
Then Sawzalled the flanges in two, took the bumper off because it was welded to it, dropped the tank, fixed the pump, put it all back on and used the plates with grade 8 bolts to reattach the flanges.
Basically it tied up one of his lifts all day, plus one of his techs all day.
Guy didn't squawk though. Then....
Later, I was in a bait and tackle store and he was telling everybody what a cheat my friend was.
I'm particular, I don't have many friends, so I tend to be just a little protective of the ones I have.
This guy's problem was that my mechanic friend had LOTS of friends.
He fixes old folks cars for free, he will come out at 2 in the morning to help you, that sort of thing.
I didn't judge the mood of the 7 or 8 guys standing around listening to this correctly.
I was doing a slow burn, and started walking toward this crumb.
As I did, I informed them loudly what the guy had insisted on and why he had been charged what he was.
I never got to him.
A VERY large man put out one arm and stopped me.
He reached into a bait can on the counter and came out with a handful of earthworms and held it out to the prick.
He told him he had two choices. Apologize, or take in the earthworms. And it would not be his choice which orifice was used.
Everybody else in the room was strangely standing between him and the door......
Anyway, before I got distracted.....I don't know what my friend uses, but he has thin plywood templates of the most popular truck beds with the holes marked, so anybody in the shop can do it right the first time.
J.
hidesertwheelin
1/2 ton status
yes, just drop the tank, with the amount of work to cut out a hole, patch it back up or whatever, it only takes about 20-30 mins do completely drop a tank and get the old pump out. Nuther 30 mins to reinstall it and everything is still as was when new.
My sub came from Michigan. I spent 3 hours today trying to remove the rear bumper. I need to remove the rear bumper so I can remover the receiver that is completely rusted to the frame, so that I can access the skid plate, and then drop the tank. Problem is that in 3 hours, I was only able to get 3/4 of the rear bumper brackets unbolted, and I broke 2 sockets and a 1/2" craftsman ratchet. I f-ing hate rust, we don't have this stuff in California.
hidesertwheelin
1/2 ton status
Oh ya, How big should I make the hole?
Doesn't need to be any bigger than this:
Just needs to be a better job. The previous owner did this to my 90...
Rene
Just needs to be a better job. The previous owner did this to my 90...
Rene
I made mine a bit bigger... and rectangular. The extra room really helps. Plus, IIRC, the lines extend out further on a Burb. I don't remember exactly what issue I had, but I do remember I was glad I went a little oversize on the hole. It was maybe 10" wide and extended from one floor brace, back to the next (maybe 8").
