Fuel Pump Install

[mike h]

This write up is a review of my fuel pump install, using this guide. My car is a 1995 3.8L, and even though the install is for a Formula Firebird, it made no difference. If you are thinking about doing this mod, follow those instructions, but listen to my wisdom i gained after completing the install:

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• make sure that you really need to replace it. It turns out that the fuel pump was not the reason my car was acting up, and it really made me mad.</font>
• Don't use the measurements for the hole that he uses, use these: 1/4" from left, 1/4" from bottom, 3/4" from right, 1" from top. It's never bad to have too much room.</font>
• don't just buy a fuel pump, buy a whole pump assembly. i did so and did not ahve to worry about that glue crap drying overnight.</font>
• make sure you have sheet metal availible to buy in your area. Turns out that the local home depot, lowes, and osh do not have sheet metal and i am driving around with the carpet covering that hole.</font>
• BE CAREFUL WITH THE DREMEL. the wheels, even though they can tut through metal, are very brittle and will break off alot. I had about 15 peices of wheels all around my car and trunk when i was done. make sure nobody is standing parallel to where the wheels are pointing. also make sure not to put too much pressure on the wheels and let them do all the work; i ended up using about 20 wheels but once i got the technique of using them down i could have done the cut with 5 of em.
  having a buddy helps. you need a new wheel about once every 30 seconds and they are difficult to take off/put on by yourself.</font>

I have to say that i was suprised that I was able to complete the job, I know absolutely nothing about mecahnics and it was the first thing I have ever done with a car.

PROS

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• an important mod for anyone with a power adder.</font>
• pump failure out of question for the next 10 years.</font>
• cheap and easy.</font>

CONS
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• noisy, but may be reduced when I get sheet metal to cover the hole.</font>
• knowing that you might have screwed something up! [img]tongue.gif[/img]</font>
• maybe worse fuel economy, but only if you get a high-proformance 255LPH pump.</font>

[FireFighter]

Tell me you put in a walbro? They are cheaper than a stock replacement unless you felt you were never going to upgrade your car to the point of needing one.

[mike h]

no walboro, i want to get this car running decent and get a firebird maybe. start over and not deal with all the hassle this car has given me.

[andrew.brandon]

thanks for the info and the link!

[T-Punk]

what cutting wheel did you use for the dremle? they make some stronger wheels that dont break as easy so if you ever have to do this kind of a thing again you can look into them (if you didnt know about them already). good write up though.

[mike h]

Heavy-Duty cut-off wheels