Suburban fuel pump access hatch

[1ndatrunk]

Anybody ever cut an access hatch in the floor of their Burb to get to the fuel pump? Seems like it would be better than trying to drop my 3/4 full tank by myself. I'd like to know the exact spot I'd need to cut and depth of the blade or wheel needed as not to chop up any lines. I would prime and treat the edges to prevent rust, and use weather striping and sheet metal to fashion a removable cover to put back over it. I'm hoping it's right under the third row...

[imjeff]

What could possibly go wrong, lol! I would just siphon the gas and drop the tank. It'll be quicker and you won't have a potential mushroom cloud. If you're deadest on cutting an access hole, do it after you drop the tank and make sure it's air/water tight.

Jeff

[BLE 'BURBAN]

I'm going to be doing this to my burb in the next couple of months. I'm going to use a section of floor from a donor burb to make the access plate with a keyed latch on it and and and and.....I'll post a how to/build on how i' do it when I do it. By the end of May it'll be cut & covered.

[1ndatrunk]

May is to far away for me, i'm certain I'll have it replaced by then.

[68Timber]

I'm reminded of the movie Holes.

[1ndatrunk]

Good one, but the thought of finding a container to store this gas has me worried. I also don't want to bother the tank straps since they're a bit rusted. Somebody has done this before, I know. It can't just be the newer body guys...

[SilverMiner]

Last year when I was Suburban shopping, I looked at a number of 87-91's that the seller actually bragged about the access hole in the rear. All were hidden by carpeting, and only one looked like it had been done with much craftsmanship.

The best one appeared to have been created by drilling rather large holes in each corner, which I now suspect was to accommodate a reciprocating saw for the remainder of the cuts. It looked good, and would minimize the danger of sparks igniting the tank and ruining your day.

Unfortunately, I don't have any dimensions for you to help site the hole. The ones I looked at that didn't look well done clearly had trouble finding the correct starting point. Is there any access at all to the top of the tank to slide a ruler in to feel around for the sending unit?

[1ndatrunk]

I've got a small but if room, but with these hands, it's nearly impossible to get in there to measure. I'm afraid of hitting lines also...

[1ndatrunk]

Nobody else?

[kwin]

I've done it, made a piece to cover the hole that matched the contour of
Floor. Installed with rivets. Would look factory if you could see it. I drilled a hole and cut with aviation snips it was a brutal job. Couldn't drop the tank so it worked.

[1ndatrunk]

Any measurements you want to share? Depth of cut, width, length, etc?

[kwin]

So I went and measured for you, my burb is a 89 barn door model. Just for refrence.
Here are the measurements.


From the edge of the spare tire well ( drivers side rear ) to the edge of the locking ring for the tank sending unit is 21 1/2 inches.
From the carpeted side pannel ( passenger side ) to the edge of the lock ring is 31 inches.
From the end of the carpet(at the rear doors) where it meets the aluminium strip to the lock ring is 15 1/4 inches.
the lock ring is aproxamately 5 inches across.

When I cut mine I drilled holes at the four corners and used snips to connect the dots.
It was brutal!
Be careful and don't make sparks!
I took all of the measurements with no carpet on the floor.

[1ndatrunk]

Originally Posted by kwin

So I went and measured for you, my burb is a 89 barn door model. Just for refrence.
Here are the measurements.


From the edge of the spare tire well ( drivers side rear ) to the edge of the locking ring for the tank sending unit is 21 1/2 inches.
From the carpeted side pannel ( passenger side ) to the edge of the lock ring is 31 inches.
From the end of the carpet(at the rear doors) where it meets the aluminium strip to the lock ring is 15 1/4 inches.
the lock ring is aproxamately 5 inches across.

When I cut mine I drilled holes at the four corners and used snips to connect the dots.
It was brutal!
Be careful and don't make sparks!
I took all of the measurements with no carpet on the floor.

You sir, are my hero. I actually dropped the tank already,but I did cut an access hole for future reference. I plan on doing an ls, vortex, or 383 swap eventually, so I want to run an external pump as that time.

[kwin]

Lol, I never had the option of dropping the tank. Glad it worked out for you.



Keith

[1ndatrunk]

I dropped it before I saw your post/pm, so it was already down, lol.