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Strange Idea - Opening for Gas Tank access?

crazedyak

crazedyak

That Guy
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Has anyone cut an opening into the rear floor of a K5 to gain access to the Fuel Tank? Specifically to the fuel sender/fuel pump for future replacements?

I'm thinking about making a permanent access panel to the fuel sender, as I've dropped the tank twice now and don't want to do it again, but I'm pretty sure I got either a faulty pump or that little 2inch hose has come loose or needs replacement.

I'm thinking... Make a square access cover with a foam gasket that can be semi-sealed to prevent water/fume/road grime from getting into the cabin.

So... if anyone has made this mod.... can you let me know how you did it?
 
Lots of guys have done that.

I have known plenty of guys who have done something similar to cars and such.

Nicest one I saw was a guy cut a hole, got a piece bigger than that out of a pickup bed and then just foam gasket around it. Rounded it out really nice and he used nutserts not just self tappers.
 
My local mechanic quotes two prices for changing an in-tank pump.
One for dropping the tank, getting mud in his face, and sometimes sloshing gas on himself if its real full, or a much cheaper one if he cuts an access hole in the bed.

He does a neat job, and fashions a nice little plate that bolts back on to cover the hole.
 
Jus mimic the rear tailgate access panel, the its cut and mounts. seems easy enough.
 
Well, I used the search function again... and low and behold using the term "access panel" I found a few descriptions on page 8 of the search results. Guess I don't know the perfect phrase to type in the search function.

Anyway... I think the mimic of the tailgate access hole is a decent idea. I'm going to cut 12 x 8, as I read that several folks who had cut 8 x 8 wish they went just a bit bigger due to the hoses.

For anyone who stumbles upon this later. I'm cutting the floor 8 1/2 inches forward of the tailpan in the center of the floor to start with. Small hole to determine how far off I am from center of the the sender. Then I will center the 12 x 8 access panel off that.
 
I did the same thing to a YJ I had. Be sure to use a wheel and not a saw. You'll want as little gap between the panel and the bed as possible. Oh....and go get a large magnet from harbor freight, reach between the tank and the bed and stick the magnet up under the bed above the sending unit. Then take a piece of metal and go into the bed and find the magnet.
 
I like the way he did that. The only changes I would make, and will when my next pump goes out in my truck, would be to use countersink Allen head screws, and a recessed popup pull handle.

In my truck, I sometimes slide heavy things in, and it needs to be a smooth surface.
 
Fordum said:
I like the way he did that. The only changes I would make, and will when my next pump goes out in my truck, would be to use countersink Allen head screws, and a recessed popup pull handle.

In my truck, I sometimes slide heavy things in, and it needs to be a smooth surface.
Click to expand...

His is flush on the top of the "ribs". If you look all of the bolts are in the recessed part and so is the pull ring.
 
4X4HIGH said:
His is flush on the top of the "ribs". If you look all of the bolts are in the recessed part and so is the pull ring.
Click to expand...

Cool optical illusion. The darkness of the ribs makes them look like they are farther away from the eye.
When I went back and looked again, it took me a minute to convince my brain that they were raised even though I knew they were from looking at the ends.

Even now, when I go back and look, just for a second it looks reversed again.

But you're right, thats the way to do it.
 
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