Alright, im pretty sure I need to replace my fuel pump, and I have researched how to do the trap door method and it looks relatively straightforward. However, ive seen some people say its a bad idea because you are not able to flush the tank out. What all is involved with flushing the tank out and why is it not possible with the trap door method?

 

I just did mine a couple weeks ago and didn't flush anything. Only way I would drop the tank - considering all the work involved - is if there were no other option. It wasn't a bad install at all.

 

I did the trap door a year and a half ago with no flushing... Haven't had any problems.

 

I did this job 2 months ago when my pump spontaneously failed.

I cut the access hatch per the instructions on the web and it probably
took less than 2 hours for the whole job. Keep in mind the glue on the bucket has to sit for 24 hours during this process.

Its super easy to do, get the racetronix pump its a direct replacement
and it comes with Everything u need, including a paperclip

 

Well, I guess what im wondering is why is flushing the tank recomended and is it possible to do using the trap door method?

 

I read in GMHTP that you should flush out the tank using water, flushing it out is to get rid of any setteled sedement and rust out of the tank that could clog your new pump. You don't know if your old pump clog due to this floating gunk in your tank, so you run the risk of having your new pump fail shortly after install because of neglecting to flush out your tank.

 

I don't think it's possible to flush it while using the trap door method.

 

although it makes life a **** ton easier, this trap door method is so ghetto.

 

Not if it is done right. You put a nice metal plate over the hole and rivit or screw it down and pull the carpet back over it and no one knows it's there. And if you make some mistake, or have to redo the fuel pump repair for some reason, you will be damn happy you did it this way (unless you had the failure due to crap in the tank and it takes out your new pump because you didn't flush the tank)

Cutting off the top of your car with a sawzall to make a convertable out of it - now that is ghetto. Or taking a can of spray paint to your wheels to match the color of your car is ghetto.

 

Wouldnt it be possible to siphon out all the gas first, then throw some water in the tank and use a hose to suck it all out?

 

I dropped my tank when the car was about 8 years old to replace the fuel pump. No signs of dirt in the tank and the stock filter sock looked fairly clean. I didn't bother cleaning my tank; not sure I would want to introduce water into my tank anyway...sounds like a good way to introduce problems.

 

i threw water into my tank when i was doing the trap door method cause i was worried about blowing up. then pumped it out with the fuel pump. 3 months later, no problem.