Fueling & Injection - Trap door fuel pump access - where to cut?

I've been searching through the forums but was not able to get a clear answer to the exact location of where the stock fuel pump location is.

For a 1999, where would the stock fuel pump be? Is it towards the front of the car or closer to the trunk of the car?


Picture of fuel pump towards the front of the car
http://ls1tech.com/forums/attachments/lt1-lt4-modifications/321323d1318782636-fuel-pump-trap-door-plate-dimensions-help-fuelpumpdoorcut3.jpg

Picture of fuel pump closer to the trunk.
http://www.emperorjordan.com/sbca96/images/99CamaroSS/Fuel_Pump/1999CamaroSS_fuelpump_006a.JPG


To clarify (for future searchers)
1993-1998 F-Bodies = Metal tank (fuel pump is located towards the front of car).
1999-2002 F-Bodies = Plastic tank (fuel pump is located towards the trunk of the car).

http://www.taekwondoplus.org/z28/fuelpump.html

^ the write up doesn't help the question at hand.

I'm guessing the fuel pump's location is different depending on if you have a plastic or metal gas tank.

To the best of my knowledge, I think it's the 99-02s that had the plastic gas tank and if your gas tank is plastic, the fuel pump would be located closer to the trunk portion (anyone willing to confirm).

Is it that difficult to drop the tank?

You have to drop the exhaust and everything if you don't want to cut a trap door. The 98-02 is a plastic tank. The bottom picture with the red is a 98-02 body style.

no, 1999 and up is plastic, i have a 1998 and its a metal tank.....just dropped mine

Thanks for the great info.

To clarify (for future searchers)
1993-1998 F-Bodies = Metal tank (fuel pump is located towards the front of car).

1999-2002 F-Bodies = Plastic tank (fuel pump is located towards the trunk of the car).

02* lol not 01

corrected; thanks =P

It is just my opinion, but in all honesty if you are doing the fuel pump on a almost 13yr old car, i would just take the few extra steps and drop the tank, and clean that bad boy out while your at it, over the past 13yrs you dont know what good stuff might have accumulated in it, and if you are putting in a brand new pump, you never know what it may start to suck up outta that tank. Thats just my .02cents thought, Good luck!

I figured I'd add pictures of how I did it. I eyeballed mine and cut it with a Dremel, and I had the perfect amount of space to work. To seal it back up, I bent the flap back down and sealed it with some leftover Quick Roof from an audio install... No hump, no gas smell... PERFECT.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u191/roninsonic/Camaro%20and%20Roomates/2012-08-22172225.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u191/roninsonic/Camaro%20and%20Roomates/2012-08-22221229.jpg

I did the flap on mine as well. Super easy to do. Buddy who did it added riveted pieces to hold it down that slide around for access.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj294/01ssreda4/Trapdoor2.jpg

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj294/01ssreda4/Trapdoor1.jpg

This link pretty good too.

http://www.ls2.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1792

IMO this tool is by far the best to use when cutting the hole. I picked one up at Harbor Freight for less than $20.

http://www.amazon.com/Supercoup-Sheet-Nibbler-Cutting-Shears/dp/B002T4QDJW/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1346605015&sr=8-16&keywords=sheet+metal+nibbler

hth

You do not need to cut up your car. I replaced the fuel pump in mine in one hour and fifteen minutes. Dropping the tank is no big deal. I had the car up on lift and a friend helped me lower and lift the tank. You don't have to drop the rear end either. Replacing the fuel pump is not a big challenge on these cars. Just get the car up on a lift and do it.

I agree that it's probably easier and quicker if you have access to a lift and a friend who can help lift the gas tank to the ground (cussing also that the tank is nearly full of gasoline).

We seem to forget also, that if the fuel pump is not operating, that the car is not driveable and requires a tow.

The fact is I don't think many (perhaps a majority) of people have access to a lift. Where are you going to find a shop that will rent you a lift, drive your own car onto their lift, raise the lift, let you work on your own car, bring your own tools, and bring along your own parts?

Because of the above, I'd venture to say that a great majority of people on this forum work on their cars in their own garage or in a friends garage with few of us having a lift.

In fact, it's getting so bad in some shops, you have to have permission to even walk out on the shop floor without an escort or have to have key to open the door to the shop.

For most of us, one size doesn't fit all and as a result we have to find ways to accomplish the task at hand with what tools and equipment we have at our disposal and can afford.

Would I liked to have had a lift when I removed the rearend a few weeks ago? You better believe it. But I don't, so I had to do it on jackstands - alone and I'm 65. Sometimes you got to do what you got to do, even though it's not the preferred method.

dlandsvZ28 Congrats to you sir for reaching 65 years of age. I am also 65 years old. Been hot rodding for about 50 years now. Just a FYI for you. You can drop the tank without a lift and you do not need to drop the rear end without a lift either. That is just doing unneeded work. I'm sorry that in your 65 years that you have not met any buddies that will lend you a helping hand for a job like replacing a fuel pump. I just was lucky enough to be able to use a lift to perform the job. Believe me I have done just about any kind of wrenching job on jack stands. I've changed engines, transmissions, and rear ends at numerous race tracks around the country back in my NHRA class racing days. But that is another story altogther. I am sure that a man your age has heard that sometimes it is "who you know" that makes life a little easier. Nuff said.;)

I figured I'd add pictures of how I did it. I eyeballed mine and cut it with a Dremel, and I had the perfect amount of space to work. To seal it back up, I bent the flap back down and sealed it with some leftover Quick Roof from an audio install... No hump, no gas smell... PERFECT.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u191/roninsonic/Camaro%20and%20Roomates/2012-08-22172225.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u191/roninsonic/Camaro%20and%20Roomates/2012-08-22221229.jpg

Now there's a man who knows what to drink while working. :cheers:

Kinda like saying, it's easy to do your own open heart surgery, just invite you surgeon neighbor over :eyes: 3/4 little cuts is no big deal. GM shoulda added the panel to the body stamping. Them being dummies is why we are forced to cut.

I cant believe people are cutting up their cars to do a simple job like replacing a fuel pump. When there is no need to do it.

I cut mine like the 1st pict posted. Then installed a 1/4 thick piece of stainless steel with self cutting sheet metal screws. I also used a rubber seal over the edges of the hole so IF I ever need to replace, upgrade, whatever, it will be a cakewalk. I made the hole a little bigger just to make it easier to move things around and real glad I did.

You do not need to cut up your car. I replaced the fuel pump in mine in one hour and fifteen minutes. Dropping the tank is no big deal. I had the car up on lift and a friend helped me lower and lift the tank. You don't have to drop the rear end either. Replacing the fuel pump is not a big challenge on these cars. Just get the car up on a lift and do it.

actually on a 98 with the metal tank you do have to drop the rear to get it out. I dropped my rear and have a lift when i did my fuel pump swap.. ill be sure to do the door next time.rather save myself the time.

I have done the door on both of my f-bodys, Its great knowing you can have the pump back out again in a matter of minutes if you need to.

Picture of fuel pump closer to the trunk.
http://www.emperorjordan.com/sbca96/images/99CamaroSS/Fuel_Pump/1999CamaroSS_fuelpump_006a.JPG


I did mine with these almost identical dimensions.

actually on a 98 with the metal tank you do have to drop the rear to get it out. I dropped my rear and have a lift when i did my fuel pump swap.. ill be sure to do the door next time.rather save myself the time.

It took 1 hour and 15 minutes from start to finish. Hardley a large investment of time. I do not know about a 1998 car but I do know about a 2000. You do not need to drop the rear end on the 2000 model. I also know I'm not cutting up my car for a simple fuel pump swap.

People can cut their car if they like :bang: Don't wanna do it? Fine, nobody is holding a cutoff wheel to your head.

I did mine with these almost identical dimensions.

Me also.

I find it kinda funny that people cry about cutting an access panel out to do this. What's the big deal? These cars are super old now, it's not like hacking up a c6z or something. Check out the forced induction section where people basically cut off there radiator supports and redo everything just to make room and run a radiator vertically. Lol.

For the record, I cut an access panel.
:)

I find it kinda funny that people cry about cutting an access panel out to do this. What's the big deal? These cars are super old now, it's not like hacking up a c6z or something. Check out the forced induction section where people basically cut off there radiator supports and redo everything just to make room and run a radiator vertically. Lol.

:)

Yes I agree.

This one mod seems to really bother some people. Never could figure out why when you consider all of the things that are done to these cars.

I did the trap door method way back in 2004 shortly after Racetronix came out with their kit. Mine is a 98 too, so son and I decided it would be easier to cut a trap door rather than drop the tank from the rear.

BTW - GM charged me over $1300 to replace the stock pump when it failed while under warranty. I contested the charges, but failed to convince them that charge was too much. Never again will I take my car to a dealer to replace a pump.

The 98 complete Racetronix kit cost about $250 at the time. I have never had an issue with it since 2004. And if I do, it takes less than a 1/2 hour to get to the pump.

the access panel debat has been a do it or not debate since as far back as i can remember.
back before the internet had every answer to everything i went to replace my fuel pump on one of my 3rd gen cars , it was a PITA , everything was hard to unbolt, it was in the winter , no lift , on jack stands ect...
finally got the mother out and WTF is this hole ?

ive done it ever since if the need arrives.

and to the people that say dont cut ,thats fine too .
but it doesnt compromise structural integrity , many cars come from the factory with them.

I was all against cutting the car but after spending 2 hours trying to pry the exhaust off I have no choice. I have a Firehawk which slp really wrenched the clamp on to the point the metal is flowered out. I dont know how the factory exhaust bolted on but either it is tow it to a muffler shop then back home or bite the bullet and make the cut. I would consider the dealer but they would probably torch the exhaust off and charge me a fourtune. Thanks to those who posted the pics on how to get this done.

There is also a video on YouTube that's pretty good. And the guy who made it is from this site I believe.

its not that big of a deal to cut the trap door!

One of my relatives made an access door on his 95 TA & he loved how easy it made the job. When mine goes out I will do the same.

I just bought an 02 camaro on Friday, fuel pump went out yesterday. This is my first f-body and I had no idea about the trap door trick.. It took me one glance underneath the car.. And out came the air saw... And besides if your planning many mods in the future your are going to have to change the pump again.... Should have been there from the factory Imo

dropped mine. love my car too much to cut it up. was much easier than I thought. took me a lil over an hour. that was taking my time making sure to mark where the heat shields went and bagging and labeling screws.

dropped mine. love my car too much to cut it up. was much easier than I thought. took me a lil over an hour. that was taking my time making sure to mark where the heat shields went and bagging and labeling screws.

You haven't owned it long enough then.

Or gotten serious enough about going fast :D

Went to start my 02 Formula race car for the first time in a few months only to learn the pump is out. Ive been running stock pump since car was new. Debating now on cutting access panel. Also wondering why it's not throwing any codes. 0 pressure at fuel rail. Power at fuse.