Fuel Pump Access Hole???

[Rockrz]

Just curious if anybody has cut an access panel in their truck bed for easy access to their fuel pump?
 

I'm going to do this to my 07-13 Silverado to simplify installing a new fuel pump when the time comes (I'm going to keep this truck a long time, so I'll need a fuel pump eventually).
 

I'll rivet in some flat steel on the under side around all side to bolt the panel to so the floor remains strong. I run a bed mat so it won't be visable once done.
 

Here's a couple of Utube videos of guys doing this.
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHwElftEfyU
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ohq9byG6c8

 

 

Edited December 23, 2023 by Rockrz

[richard wysong]

If you care about the truck just take the time to unbolt the bed and block up the left side. It's easier than it sounds

[Rockrz]

Lots of vehicles come with a trap door from the factory so this can be done without weakening the strength of the bed floor.

Besides, I'm just one guy and I'm not quite strong enough to pull my truck's bed all by myself.

No need to worry... it's not going to hurt anything.  Lots of guys are doing this.

[richard wysong]

I know, I did it to my 98 but the bed was rotted so I didn't care. If you use a piece of aluminum to patch the hole you may be able to fit it to the ridges of the bed, It will have to be screwed or riveted from the top as there is no access underneath

[Ozark Dually]

Pretty much a piece of cake......

 

For my 1988 Chevy 3500 Dually the biggest concern was optimizing the size of the "trap door" and it's exact placement above the fuel pump sending unit.  I wanted to size the door so it was large enough to access the fittings etc. above the pump and also allow the entire pump & sending unit to come upward through the bed. Yet, I wantede the opening as small as possible.

 

Superimposing the "shadow" of the fuel pump upward to the underside of the bed was tricky. It would have been nice to use a right angle drill to drill upward into the floor of the bed thereby creating (4) corner points for reference. After that a reciprocating saw from the top side of the bed did the job.

 

I was able to weld a hinge on the underside and add a stiffening ledge around the inner perimeter to keep the door from falling downward (think sewer lid).  Job turned out beautiful, the ribs in the bed match up and the entire bed was coated with bedliner afterwards.

 

Go for it!

Happy new year .....

[Rockrz]

KooL... That's what I was thinking was to make it professional looking and I already have a thick rubber bed mat that will cover it all up.

Edited December 26, 2023 by Rockrz

[asilverblazer]

uh...  There is not a professional looking hole cut in the floor of your bed. You seem like your mind is already made up, lifting the bed off is really not that hard, two people can do it. 

 

Even with the access hole, getting the ring to secure the pump off would be difficult.

[Rockrz]

Sure it can be done in a way where it not only looks nice but also in a way where the strength of the bed floor is maintained.

The qualified, improving high tech redneck can get 'er done!

[Donstar]

I am sure an access door to your fuel pump can be created and look like it was always there!  But why?  I've owned many vehicles over my 50+ years of having a driver's license and recall one fuel pump replacement. (It wasn't for any of my pickups)  Obviously your experience is different but this reminds me of all of the one time use tools I needed to buy.  My justification was, "You never know when you'll need this again."   

[Rockrz]

Why?

For the exact same reason we all buy insurance.... Just in case we ever need it.

It's not like this would take a long time of cost a lot of money.

[asilverblazer]

1 hour ago, Rockrz said:

It's not like this would take a long time of cost a lot of money.

Neither does removing the bed. 

Also, may not matter to you, but, I probably wouldn't buy a used truck with this kind of stuff done to it. 

 

Not criticizing or dogging on you - I'm just more of the mindset that IF the fuel pump fails, repair it properly, especially if it isn't that much harder to do it. I don't guess I understand the desire to want to do this unless absolutely necessary. 

[Rockrz]

For one guy doing the work, putting in a trap door is better for me not hurting my back trying to lift one side of the truck bed.

The trap door will be much easier and far more convenient for me than lifting the truck bed.



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Edited January 4 by Rockrz