Is there an easier way to replace my fuel pump other than dropping the tank?

 

Some people like to cut an openeing in the floorboard above where the fuel pump enters the tank. I don't know if that is work saver or not, but I rather not damage one thing in order to fix another.

 

The booby hatch method isn't going to work, not the correct and safe way anyway...I already tried.
Look at the picture below of my 91 RS. See all those steel fuel and return lines? They are solid steel (no breaks or unions) from the sending unit forward, across, and down alongside the tank to where they connect at the left side of the car. There's no way in hell you're going to get the unit/pump out of the tank without cutting those lines. If you did cut them, you would have to splice them back together, and then FLARE at least the high pressure line with fittings to reconnect it (not splice with rubber hose).
If you wanna take a chance of splicing a fuel line and possibly developing a leak right above the exhaust system, that's up to you. I didn't want to.

 

Thanks for the advice, I was just thinking about cutting the floorboard to access the FP from the top. Not now!

 

you whats weird, i replaced my fuel pump, but i didnt remove any lines. i cant remember all that well, but i do remember have the in tank unit on my back porch to work on. i cant remember how though...now im confused. i had to fix the pump bracket, and had the entire plastic assembly out. how is the fuel lines connect to that?

 

Did you drop the tank or access through the floorboard?

I've heard you can access it from the top but now I'm not sure.

 

i dropped the rear axle, exhaust, and tank to get it out. my exhaust was fulley welded and had no means of getting it out of the way without destroying it.

 

This is the only correct way to get at the fuel pump:



Replace the sending unit, odds are if removing it and replacing it doesn't cause it to go bad, it will soon. $200 without the fuel pump though.

 

Or this way if you don't have a nifty-lift.

 

yea, the whole rear doesnt need removed. just the shocks and lower the axle. i just unloaded the springs, but didnt remove them. i did have to cut the cat hanger though to get the exhaust to drop enough. at the time, i didnt know there were exhaust clamps to butt the pipe together