Fuel pump install
Fuel pump install Hey guys I'm getting ready to replace my fuel pump on my 98 Trans Am and I was wondering if you hve to remove the rear end to drop the tank? Also, any tips or pointers will be greatly appreciated!
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
I definitely would go with the trap door method if you don't have a lift. Some people don't mind dropping the tank on the ground, but that's not for me. GM should have put an access panel there. I look at it as correcting a factory mistake.
TRAP DOOR !!! I did it on mine without hesitation. Couple years later while traveling in Florida(from Ohio),the pump started to go. I knew It wasn't gonna make it back to the motel. Had a spare with me, took 15 minutes to change it out off I75.
You do not have to drop the rear end to change a fuel pump. I did mine in about an hour and a half. I had the car on a lift using air tools when I did it. If you were going to do it on jack stands without air tools it would probably add another hour to the process. You do not need to cut a hole in your car either. The only people who recommend doing that are the ones who were dumb enough to cut a hole in their car. All this BS gets started on the internet by people who lack the mechanical skills to do the repair correctly. Do not believe it. Swapping fuel pumps is not a big deal.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,629
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
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Thanks for all the replies guys! I'm going to drop the tank though. Slt200mph what all did you have to remove to get the tank out? It looks like the panhard bars are in the way?
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Verdad Gallardo Your right the panhard bar needs to come out. You need to unlatch the spout where the fuel goes through the fender into the tank too. If you look at it and take your time you will see that it is not that complicated. You may have to soder and splice the wires to the pump. I had to do mine but it was not hard to do. You want to have some help lowering the tank. Especially if you have a lot of fuel in it.
As with anything there is a correct way to do it and a incorrect way. Like I said it only took one and half hours of time to do it. After hot rodding for over 50 years swapping a fuel pump on a 4th gen F body was pretty EZ. I worked at a Chevy dealer for 11 years. Believe me there were no holes being cut in any F body cars to swap a fuel pump. Nuff said.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,629
Likes: 2,549
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
As with anything there is a correct way to do it and a incorrect way. Like I said it only took one and half hours of time to do it. After hot rodding for over 50 years swapping a fuel pump on a 4th gen F body was pretty EZ. I worked at a Chevy dealer for 11 years. Believe me there were no holes being cut in any F body cars to swap a fuel pump. Nuff said.
A Chevy dealer would never drill a hole in a trans pan to install a drain plug either, but that doesn't necessarliy make it an incorrect thing to do.
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From: Bucks County, Pa.
As with anything there is a correct way to do it and a incorrect way. Like I said it only took one and half hours of time to do it. After hot rodding for over 50 years swapping a fuel pump on a 4th gen F body was pretty EZ. I worked at a Chevy dealer for 11 years. Believe me there were no holes being cut in any F body cars to swap a fuel pump. Nuff said.
(The lowest price I've seen for a new Delphi is on Amazon, at ~$275.00 shipped, ALL others, even China made crap, is more, even on Rock Auto. 
) 
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: western wisconsin
Trap door method worked well for me. Very handy with a wrench but don't have a lift so I cut it. Also, I just couldn't imagine having some little thing go wrong or not work right and have to drop the exhaust and tank twice!
