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Cutting Pickup Bed/ To remove Fuel Pump
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BRIAN
Posted 5/16/2006 21:48 (#12662)
Subject: Cutting Pickup Bed/ To remove Fuel Pump


Graymont Illinois		Have a 98' Dodge 4x4 3/4 ton. First advice is fuel pump bad. I tried searching for fuel pump replacement but I think the old talk was before Forum change. If, it turns out to be the fuel pump, will cutting thru bed work on the Dodge as it was disscussed with the ? Chevy" Of coarse, I filled truck gas tank, then truck quit running. Thanks Brian
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sri
Posted 5/16/2006 22:06 (#12665 - in reply to #12662)
Subject: RE: Cutting Pickup Bed/ To remove Fuel Pump


nw pa		Don't know about dodge but did ours on the chevy. If you measure where the braces are that go across the frame I don't see why not. After putting them in both ways cutting an access panel (hole sounds to redneck) the way to go if you can is cutting. An air chisel with sharp blade will cut the bed like butter.The chevy worked out so if you cut between the first and second cross piece you have plenty of room and if done right can screw the piece right back down.
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Ron..NE ILL..10/48
Posted 5/16/2006 22:38 (#12673 - in reply to #12662)
Subject: RE: Cutting Pickup Bed/ To remove Fuel Pump



Chebanse, IL.....

Brian

I'm not clear on why you'd want to cut thru bed to get to fuel pump. You'll patch bed floor again....how?

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BRIAN
Posted 5/16/2006 23:23 (#12692 - in reply to #12673)
Subject: RE: Cutting Pickup Bed/ To remove Fuel Pump


Graymont Illinois		Ron, this goes back to what I read along time ago. Now it effects me, and I forgot what was said before. My memory, thought cutting thru bed was because "if it ever happens again" this is so much easier to fix. I think it was a 12"x12",cut out.not sure, thats why I am asking. Labor cost. Have you ever had a $1 part that took ? 10 hours shop labor? to fix. Draining gas tank, dropping gas tank, replacing , re-installing. If an older truck, if (cutting floor Fast) saves time and labor. I can patch floor later. Old post floor patch looked good. Thanks for asking but , the fuel pump has not been proven problem, just the way things are leaning.
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KDD
Posted 5/16/2006 22:57 (#12683 - in reply to #12662)
Subject: Re: Cutting Pickup Bed/ To remove Fuel Pump



Leesburg, Ohio		My son does lift kits on trucks fairly frequently...he seems to able to get the eight or so bolts loose and pick a bed up in just a few minutes. Why not try that??
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Ron..NE ILL..10/48
Posted 5/17/2006 06:18 (#12745 - in reply to #12683)
Subject: Re: Cutting Pickup Bed/ To remove Fuel Pump



Chebanse, IL.....		That's the way a local garage does fuel pump replacements. Picks up the whole box in short order.
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Tim in WI
Posted 5/16/2006 23:04 (#12687 - in reply to #12662)
Subject: On a Dakota.....



Embarrass WI		Guy who works for us has a Dakota, it needed a fuel pump last summer. His uncle replaced it for him by dropping the tank. He said it was less total work than removing the box(truck has a cap). He maybe never thought of just cutting a hole(access panel!!). Fuel pump and gauge were all one unit, about the size of your thigh, and IIRC, costed about $300 with install-took his uncle about 3 hours or so. Of course the gas tank was empty, he had warning since it was just running poorly and was able to plan for replacement.

I took the box off my 94 Ram diesel when I had the flatbed put on, all that holds it is 4 or 6 screws, they spun right out, had the box loose in about 10 minutes, all the lights are on one plug in the driver side rear. I think that would be just as easy as cutting a hole-and do a lot less damage to any potential resale. You wouldn't have to drain the gas either.

When my son's S-10 needed a fuel pump the local mechanic lifted the box off so he could work from above instead of having rust falling in his eyes. When he had to put a fuel pump in my wife's Wrangler, he had to drop the tank(but her Jeep has never been driven in winter, so no rust-just dried mud).
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BRIAN
Posted 5/16/2006 23:32 (#12697 - in reply to #12662)
Subject: Thanks Guys/Gals. Did Not Know


Graymont Illinois		That taking bed off was so easy(for you) we will see. Shop labor might not be as bad as I thought. I could try but , if weather improves, I "could" be in fields by thursday, which meens working on tractors/planter before.
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Jon Hagen
Posted 5/17/2006 01:06 (#12735 - in reply to #12697)
Subject: RE: Thanks Guys/Gals. Did Not Know



Hagen Brothers farms,Goodrich ND		Taking the bed off a 100,000 mile plus pickup can be a real pain if your up north where they use road salt. Then you have a very good chance that one or more of the bed bolts will twist off,or worse,the captive nut in the bed twists loose and is near impossible to remove.
I still say,one of these should be standard,or atleast optional on any "pump in the tank" machine. 8)



(pump access hatch 2.JPG)



Attachments
----------------
Attachments pump access hatch 2.JPG (31KB - 2241 downloads)
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BRIAN
Posted 5/17/2006 19:38 (#12894 - in reply to #12735)
Subject: Jon's Post above Is What I was looking for (sri too)


Graymont Illinois		Thanks Jon, that picture was what I remembered. Too late as pickup has box off waiting for pump. However I think I will have shop mark where cutting should be done "next time" And etch on top of  floor so I can just cut in middle of crossmember so have a place to screw replacement panel. May not need pump again before trade but I will tell buyer about marks to cut. Brian edit     (thanks sri also!)  by the way I have a rubber floor matt to cover patch anyway.

Edited by BRIAN 5/17/2006 19:55
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Tim in WI
Posted 5/17/2006 22:27 (#12947 - in reply to #12894)
Subject: So how much time to remove box?



Embarrass WI		How long did it take to get your box off? I'll bet it was one of those things that seemed like it would be a lot bigger job than it actually was.
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BRIAN
Posted 5/17/2006 23:07 (#12971 - in reply to #12947)
Subject: RE: So how much time to remove box?


Graymont Illinois		Embarassed Had tire repair shop do work. Mom got home from nursing home after 6 months with shattered leg. Too many things for a sole operater. Should of had "spawn" to mow yards, ect. :>)Surprised
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sri
Posted 5/17/2006 23:16 (#12975 - in reply to #12894)
Subject: RE: Jon's Post above Is What I was looking for (sri too)


nw pa		need to put a new sending unit in the tank of the old chev and will take a few pictures and measurements on where we cut. The baffle came loose and destroyed the other sender.Had to pull it out up through the hole and cut with tin snips cause we were afraid of the baffle pulling off the pump. Was in the middle of planting so couldn't fix it then. Was a ten minute job to get it out. Will see how long the new one takes to install.course we have a bed kiner so patching the hole is not a big deal. Your right if you can cut down the middle of the cross member the piece you cut out will fit right back in and have a place to screw it to.
Might have to start a new thread in a few days when we get to it.
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Ron..NE ILL..10/48
Posted 5/17/2006 23:04 (#12970 - in reply to #12735)
Subject: RE: Jon....where to cut?



Chebanse, IL.....

Jon

Any suggestions on where we should cut floorboard-or how to determine where the pump is? Might make a good rainy day project.

Plasma cutter?

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Jon Hagen
Posted 5/18/2006 08:58 (#13036 - in reply to #12970)
Subject: RE: Jon....where to cut?



Hagen Brothers farms,Goodrich ND		No plasma cutter,the fuel hoses and pump/guage wiring are only a couple inches below the floor,so cut with care. air chisel or disc grinder with cutoff wheel. On my old 92 chev 8 ft bed,look at the picture I posted, count ribs from the edge of the bed and notice the location of the fuel filler bump. there is enough room to feel of the top of the tank and locate the pump/sender assy.
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Curt Keiser
Posted 5/17/2006 00:05 (#12711 - in reply to #12662)
Subject: Sounds good to me.............


Beresford SD		when you want to work on the tranny just roll the pickup on her side, its easy to get to then.
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guest
Posted 5/17/2006 03:48 (#12738 - in reply to #12662)
Subject: RE: Cutting Pickup Bed/ To remove Fuel Pump


Next time I order a new pickup, I would insist hard on having a snap-on panel over the pump site to be done at the factory. I do my best in keeping the tank at least half full at all the time for providing pump cooling and longevity.

No way for me to stop at stations having non-shield nozzles that cover the fill tubes to keep rain and dust out.

Many fuel nozzles on farms don't have sheilds to keep vehicle tanks clean and water-free. A nozzle shield I cut from an old tire lasts long time and gives me a peace of mind.
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Tom Russell
Posted 5/17/2006 06:53 (#12752 - in reply to #12662)
Subject: Re: Cutting Pickup Bed/ To remove Fuel Pump



McLeod County Minnesota		Have you thought about removing the bed/box? I have done it many times.
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JWS
Posted 5/17/2006 10:16 (#12815 - in reply to #12662)
Subject: Re: Cutting Pickup Bed/ To remove Fuel Pump


NorthWest Indiana		All of this talk about cutting out a panel and welding the panel back in, aren't these tanks vented? If so, why aren't these people killing themselves cutting out an access panel? How hard is it to stick a hose in the filler tube and using a 12 volt fuel pump, empty the tank then drop it?
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Jon Hagen
Posted 5/17/2006 13:24 (#12841 - in reply to #12815)
Subject: Re: Cutting Pickup Bed/ To remove Fuel Pump



Hagen Brothers farms,Goodrich ND		Nope,no vent at the tank,they have a vent hose that runs to a charcoal canister up front. you cut the bed floor with a disc grinder or air chisel. You do not weld the hatch back in,that would defeat the whole idea of having easy access when the next pump or gauge sender fails,you attach it with sheet metal screws.
If everything is clean and rust free,dropping the tank, which includes lowering it enough to disconnect/connect 3 or 4 hoses and wires while supporting the tank is still a couple hours job. If everything is rusty and caked with mud,the difficulty factor increases by a factor of three.
With the hatch installed in the bed floor of my old 180K,rusty Chevy,removing the hatch cover(4 screws and R&Ring the fuel pump/sender unit is a 1/2 hour job without getting under the pickup and in the shower of salty dirt.
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Chad H
Posted 5/17/2006 22:42 (#12955 - in reply to #12815)
Subject: Re: Cutting Pickup Bed/ To remove Fuel Pump


NE SD		Actually, in some vehicles, it's very hard to stick a hose in and drain the tank. I dare you to try it in a 1997 or later Ford. You'll get a few gallons out, but that's it..........that's experience talking.
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bjr
Posted 5/18/2006 10:17 (#13054 - in reply to #12955)
Subject: Aftermarket Inline Pump


I didn't see adding an aftermarket inline pump as a fix. Just look over in Ford Truck Enthusiast (spelling?) They're high pressure inline pumps (50 psi I think) for fuel injection systems. Just leave old pump inplace. Mount new pump on frame somewhere with somekind key switched wire. Now some times leaving old pump in works and sometimes not, from what I've read. I've not done the fuel pump addition yet, but have a inline pump setting on the shelf for when needed on a old '93 f-150. I share the fears and dreads of removing gas/bed/tank. I would also be in the group putting trap door in bed of truck also. Putting consumable part such as fuel pump in the fuel tank, I'm not sure was a automotive great idea, I know that pretty near all fuel injected style vehicles are made this way. bjr
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Jon Hagen
Posted 5/18/2006 13:24 (#13068 - in reply to #13054)
Subject: Re: Cutting Pickup Bed/ To remove Fuel Pump



Hagen Brothers farms,Goodrich ND		I have read that the first few years of fuel injected Ford pickups and vans had external fuel pumps mounted on the frame rail. leaving the old pump in place and connecting an external pump should work on the old GM tbi systems with their low pressure centrifical pump. I am not sure that enough fuel would flow through the gears of the gear rotor pumps most high pressure multipoint systems use,so in that case it may not work.
It's too bad that the car/pickup builders save themselves a few bucks by not providing easy access to that pump. I guess the theory is that the pump is not likely to fail untill the rig is off warrenty,then it's the owners problem.
The latest trick is to put the fuel filter in the tank with the pump. They say the filter should last the life of the rig,ya right, untill you get 5 gallons of really cruddy gas from a dirty tank or can.
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