Fuel pump replacement on my truck

96 Vortec · June 16, 2003

I gotta replace the fuel pump on my truck. Here is the dilema. I have a full tank of gas (26 gallons). Do I siphon the gas out and fill up 5-5 gallon buckets or remove the bed of the truck?

Shaners · June 16, 2003

If you have a few strong friends, I'd pull the bed off and set it on some saw horses. It's only got a few bolts holding it on, and a few wires for the lights. The tank should be really easy to work on then...

And while the bed is off you can do a little "touch-up" work on the frame!!! You'll also be able to get a good look at the rear suspension and differential...

Good luck, and let us know what you decided to do.

TROYROBO · June 16, 2003

i agree with shanners---------did it that way with my 94 dakota--when i had problems with it

96 Vortec · June 17, 2003

Alright, here is a quick question. Which weighs more. A full gas tank or the bed. By my calculations, 26 gallons at 8lbs a gallon is about 200lbs. So, what does a shortbed minus the tailgate weigh?

cyclejerk · June 17, 2003

You should be able to loosen the passenger side bed bolts but do not remove, then remove the drivers side, Then jack up the bed on the drivers side and access the pump. You could do this w/out friends.

good luck

burgundyz71 · June 17, 2003

I used shaners method when I did it. Was nice to do some cleaning and touch up with the bed removed.

Race18 · June 20, 2003

I had mine go bad with a full tank of gas. I went to the dealer in Clover, SC and the mechanic I talked to said to knock the sh*t out of it. I had to jump the fuel pump relay with a paper clip and took a hammer and rapped on the fuel tank and it started running again. I did this several time when I shut it off and it worked until I ran all the gas out. As hard as it was getting the tank out I think I agree with the bed removal. It took my son and I 2 1/2 hours to remove and replace the tank and pump. Then you have to contend with the quick disconnect fittings. (quick H**L) Good Luck. I know I don't want to have to do it again.

Stomper · June 21, 2003

Trust me taking the bed off is allot easier. I'v done it both ways. Either way it takes two people. I'v also done it by just lifting the bed up about a foot like cyclejerk said, but if you have an extra person it just better to get the bed out of the way. Don't just set the bed on the floor, you want something under the bed floor like saw horses. Setting it on the floor will cause the lower panels to bend.

WEFs99 · June 21, 2003

Do I ever wish this was posted 2 months ago! Siphoning a full tank and then dropping it is a PIA! I think it would have been worth removing the cap and all the tools and the bed.

lowflyer · June 21, 2003

As far as the quick disconnects go, we just normally break the plastic output tube of the fuel pump at the base of the pump unit. Where the quick disconnect plugs into the pump housing. Go ahead and break the plastic tube, then use the removal tool and needle nose pliers to pull out the remains. You aren't going to reuse that part of it anyway: just try not to mangle the QD end. Hope this saves you a step and alot of frustration.

Bed removal VS. Tank drop: I work at a shop so, I have lifts and jacks...Good luck

96 Vortec · June 22, 2003

Well, I had all the bolts and electrical connections done by the time my help arrived. We took the bed off and set it in the yard. I would have used saw horses but mine were too flimsy. No worries though, none of the panels are bent.

It took about two hours two remove the bed, change the pump and reinstall the bed. I am extremely confident that I made the correct decision to remove the bed as opposed to dropping the tank. Actually, even if the tank had been empty, removing the bed still would have been the easier method.