I'm wanting to change the fuel pump and realize the only way this is ppssible is by cutting an access hole. Im looking for a complete idiots guide including tools and parts i will need. Ive never changed a fp before but I've maintained my own car for awhile now i know a little that hopefully will take me to the finish line. Any help is appreciated this is my only car at the moment. Thank you.

 

I don't know if anyone has ever made a template, but the one time I did it I just eyeballed it from underneath using the "ridges" in the sheet metal to help me figure out the left/right limits. Front to back was a bit of a guessing game but I got lucky.

If you're willing to cut a hole in your car, a couple extra inches too big doesn't matter. Couple inches too small does. Not that you can't cut more, but how many slices do you really want to make to get the job done?

There is another way to do it, you realize. You drop the tank. Yes, that job is a BIG PITA, but you don't have to cut holes in your car to do it.

 

Yeah you can let the rear axle hang down, or remove it and drop the fuel tank...

I cut my floor to get to mine..

Here's you a few good pictures from mine.. I used an air die grinder with a 3" cut off wheel to cut it with. I only cut 3 sides.. Left, right, front.. Then folded the metal up. Then when I put it back, I just folded the metal back down, used some little brass straps/plates I had laying around and put a few pop rivets in to hold it closed

 

Forgot to mention...
You need to cut the fuel lines (you see mine are cut) to able to turn the pick up and lift it out.

I used a mini tubing cutter to cut the 4 lines,..

You can also see in my 1st picture I used masking tape to mark out my cut, and I cut on the inside tape line

 

By the time you mark it, cut it, cut the lines, etc. etc. etc. you could have dropped the tank, changed the pump and not hacked anything.

 

I would not say that.

I took me less than an hour start to finish to pull carpet back, scrape off the peel n seal, mark, cut metal, cut lines, remove sender, remove fuel pump, cut and install a line to replace pump with (was doing a carb swap, mech pump on mine), put sender back in, put rubber hoses and clamps on lines, put metal back, rivet it in place and put carpet back.


I have replaced quite a few rear ends in these cars, and with air tools it still takes me 2-3 hours to remove, replace rear end and get everything hooked back up (e brake cable, brakes bled, torque arm, etc)

Then dropping fuel tank is another hour or two depending on how much a pain it wants to