Fuel Pump Cover bolts

[Andrew7DG]

Ok I busted the line off, that was the easy part of this accually, however when I am removing the studs, they all are breaking off on me

I have broken two and I don't want to go any further and I am soaking them down with 3M rust stuff. However looking at them they look like they will all break off.

So if I break them off is there another way of sealing the top of the lid off without the bolts? or a way to install new bolts? I don't want to replace the tank because of this.

1990 eclipse AWD


So to remove the line though the easiest way is buy the fuel wrenches and take a vice-grip and slowly close the gap inbetween the wrenches. Comes right off.

 

[femmeDSM]

So you are just talking about the fuel pump bracket, right (the metal piece that holds the fuel pump, tank floater and sensors)? You can find one of those for a few bucks at a junkyard, on ebay, or here on the classifieds I'm sure. No need to worry about replacing the whole tank - the bracket is a completely separate unit.

If I were you, I'd just get it off whatever way I could and get a new one if necessary. I don't see how breaking the bolts would mean having to buy a new bracket, though....Just replace the bolts.

Unless I am completely off base and you're talking about a different part...Let me know - I've taken that whole assembly apart many times, so if you need some walk-throughs, just let me know exactly what part you're referring to, and I'll help ya out

 

[drivemusicnow]

So you are just talking about the fuel pump bracket, right (the metal piece that holds the fuel pump, tank floater and sensors)? You can find one of those for a few bucks at a junkyard, on ebay, or here on the classifieds I'm sure. No need to worry about replacing the whole tank - the bracket is a completely separate unit.

If I were you, I'd just get it off whatever way I could and get a new one if necessary. I don't see how breaking the bolts would mean having to buy a new bracket, though....Just replace the bolts.

Unless I am completely off base and you're talking about a different part...Let me know - I've taken that whole assembly apart many times, so if you need some walk-throughs, just let me know exactly what part you're referring to, and I'll help ya out

Hes talking about that part, the problem is the fact that they are studs that come up from the tank, and then the fuel pump assembly sits over them, and nuts are tightened down.

I broke off 3 of them, so my solution is going to be drilling some holes and threading some small bolts up through there. I had to drop the tank to do that though.

 

[femmeDSM]

Ahhh, I see what he's talking about now. Thanks for clearing that up It's been a while since I was in that area of the car; I guess I wasn't thinking of how it was put together.

But yeah, the previous poster is correct. You may need to just tap some new holes. Still no need to look for a new tank - but you will need to remove it for the job (not too hard, just lots of bolts and PB Blast -- there are a few threads that detail how this is done. I can point you in the right direction if you need it )

Definitely don't try and drive the car without that cover bolted down though... That's an accident waiting to happen

 

[Andrew7DG]

Yeah it is the studs that hold the cover on!!!

I think the rest are going to break as well. I think I am going to leave the tank on the car though. what I am going to do is drill the old ones out and just use self tapping screws to screw the plate down.
Please tell me if you think this is going to work

I am going to take a plastic bag and tape it to the inside of the tank. The plastic bag is going catch all of the shavings that drop down from where I am drilling. Hopefully this works.
What I am worried about is the self tapping screws as they tap themselfs in would create metal shavings. I would stick a bolt through there but I don't think I could hold it from the inside while I tighten the outside.

Any other ideas would be welcome. I don't like the Idea of drilling the bolts out at all.

 

[Andrew7DG]

Well 2 of the 6 bolts stayed on and luckly they were across from eachother. I was going to redrill the others but I turned chicken. I put some gasket in a tube on the gasket. The tank itself is pretty rusted. When winter comes around I think I am just going to buy another tank and install it. That way I know its a good tank. Everything works right now!!