DIY fuel pump question

[ASJT3]

So my brother is taking my '93 K1500 350 across country. It's got 238,000 miles on so I've been replacing all susceptible components to make sure it'll make it. However, one thing I don't really want to swap out is fuel pump since it seems to be working fine and don't want to risk bending lines or anything like that by lowering the tank.

Don't be afraid to tell me if this is a stupid idea but is it possible to fabricate an emergency fuel pump by taking spare gas cap, screwing in a tire valve, and attaching a 12V tire pump? Then if the fuel pump dies throw it on the truck and maybe put a 60psi pressure relief valve in there to make sure pressure doesn't get to high. What do you guys think?

[EDIT] Now that I think about it, doubtful that the fuel tank can handle 60psi pressure, lol.

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by ASJT3

So my brother is taking my '93 K1500 350 across country. It's got 238,000 miles on so I've been replacing all susceptible components to make sure it'll make it. However, one thing I don't really want to swap out is fuel pump since it seems to be working fine and don't want to risk bending lines or anything like that by lowering the tank.

Don't be afraid to tell me if this is a stupid idea but is it possible to fabricate an emergency fuel pump by taking spare gas cap, screwing in a tire valve, and attaching a 12V tire pump? Then if the fuel pump dies throw it on the truck and maybe put a 60psi pressure relief valve in there to make sure pressure doesn't get to high. What do you guys think?

[EDIT] Now that I think about it, doubtful that the fuel tank can handle 60psi pressure, lol.

With that many miles just replace it with a Delphi- ac Delco fuel pump assembly and be done with it.
Good Luck

[Schurkey]

Originally Posted by ASJT3

I don't really want to swap out is fuel pump since it seems to be working fine and don't want to risk bending lines or anything like that by lowering the tank.

Not an issue. You disconnect all that before the tank drops.

OR

Take off the box instead of dropping the tank.

From http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/tb...p-upgrade.html





I've done it both ways. Both ways are a pain in the ass. If you drop the tank, you've got to support the tank and guide it down--and back up. Best to do this with the tank empty. I use the existing fuel pump to pump the tank dry before removal.

If you remove the box, (only 8 bolts) you've also got to remove or disconnect some wiring, the hitch (if equipped) and the rear bumper. Some of the box bolts require a universal socket and extension to access. Universal sockets and extensions eat torque, so you'd better have a POWERFUL impact wrench--or a very long breaker bar. I had an 18mm universal socket, long extension, and a Snap-On impact wrench...and still had problems. If I remember correctly, this was the job that I bought the new Snap-On impact, because I wasn't getting anywhere with my very old Snap-On wrench. Only later did I figure out that the air inlet screen of the old wrench was 1/3 plugged so it wasn't giving full power.

[ASJT3]

Thanks Shurkey, I've read your post before on that and actually tried it on this very truck over a year ago, but like you said the box bolts were a pain to get off. Turned out the only problem was the ground conn so I was able to re-attach that and didn't need to drop the tank in the end.

I did this job a few times actually on my old Sierra by dropping the tank, but the connections were so badly rusted I had to cut them and splice in fuel hose - that's what I don't want to deal with here.