Just a thought, but I've heard a LOT of people say they used the trap door method to change their in-tank fuel pump. My concern is what happens if you get rear-ended? The fuel tank is seperated from the pass. compartment for a reason. Could you imagine if spark/flame got in or around there and the thing blew up on you? You'd be cast into a fiery doom :P

Just a concern - but how hard is it for the LT1 fuel tank to actually go up in flames like that?

 

I think thats the reason you seal it up when you are finished. The aluminum I used was the same gauge as the factory used, if that plate goes, the rest of the car will most likely go right along with it. Now if you left it open, your just stupid, hope you like smelling gas all the time too!

 

Any thing is possible......but...if your tank exploded from a rear end collision....the small trap door would be the least of your problems.

 

They don't cut the door and leave it open. All you're doing is cutting it out, doing the work, then covering it with a metal plate. I've never heard of an LT1 exploding after a rear-end collision, but if that happens I think it'd be the least of your worries.

 

there are quite a few cars with an access door/panel from the factory, many are under the rear seat, some are in the trunk

 

lol i think i have to jump in on thsi one too. Even if the trapdoor was not cut the aluminum plates that the factory used as a firewall would not stop the explosion to enter the inside of the car. Like everybody said, if in case of an explosion, the trapdoor is the least of your worries

 

I was rear ended at over 45 mph while completely stopped. See sig for pics. While I didn't have a trap door, I will tell you this, there wasn't any gas leaking issues or fires or anything. I think if you get into an accident so bad to cause the tank to explode, you have much more important things to worry about.

 

The last i heard, the 4th gen design is radically different from the late 60s Ford Pinto (whose gas tank would blow up when it was rear ended). Think about it, the cars even LOOK different!!