What is the best way to lower and raise the tank using a floor jack and jack stands? The tank has less than 5 gal. in it. I plan on replacing the tank sending unit and I have some long straps that I could use as a sling if that would help. The floor jack has a standard saddle Somewhere around 4-6 inches in dia. The tank has been removed and installed previously by my local shop to replace the fuel pump twice so I am not too concerned about the straps or bolts.

 

I don't think there is a GOOD way. I dropped mine once 40,000 miles ago to replace the fuel pump. While it was out I cut a 12"x12" hole in the floor directly above the fuel pump. Then I cut a piece of sturdy metal 14"x14" from an old washing machine. I put weather stripping around the hole and sheet metal screwed the panel over the hole. Just something GM should have done in the first place..
If I was you I would check and make sure somebody didn't do that to yours..
Good luck.

 

I am the orignal owner and no one has ever cut a hole in my floor board. The shop that did my fuel pump is a very good and reputable shop. I am not intersted in going that route but my wifes subaru outback has a factory cover plate over the fuel pump which would make if very easy to access but I have not had to replace the fuel pump in that vehical.

 

I used a floor jack and a 3' long 4x4 to lower the tank - I had about 3 gallons in mine, so pretty similar. Jack it up, run the 4x4 side to side on the tank for stability and so the jack doesn't damage the tank, then let it down slowly.

 

How long did it take to remove and then install? I have plenty of wood laying around and the 2X4 sounds like a very good method. I was even thinking of making a brace out of 2 2X4s on either side of the saddle with a some wood underneath to tie them together and a plywood in the center for the floor jack to rest on. But if a single 2X4 did the trick I will give it a shot. Thanks for the info. That is exactly what I was looking for. In the past I have been hesitant to mess with the gas tank and let the shop do the fuel pump. I have done a lot bigger jobs but it is time to give it a shot and save some money on labor.

 

In 94° weather, working by myself in the stone driveway, I did it in 7 hours. 2 of those were frustration in trying to line up the dang filler hose - I had screwed up how I wanted to reinstall it and made it much worse on myself. I'd never done a fuel pump before, either.

It was a 4x4, not 2x4, but I don't see why the 2x4 wouldn't work the same.

 

Being in Biloxi MS I know what you mean about the 94 degree weather. It gets brutal doing anything in the summer outside. At least right now the temperatures are very mild (except for this little cold snap). If I can get the tank out in 2 or 3 hours and same for installation I'll be very happy. This past summer it took me over a week to replace my knock sensor as it would not budge. I could get a wrench and socket on it but they would just rotate off when I applied torque. Then I tried a basin wrench and deformed the knock sensor so I had to remove the distributer and the Oil Pressure switch to get the room I needed to get a pipe wrench on it. The way my distributer was lined up I could not replace the oil pressure switch without rotating the distributer so I shifted the plug wires on the cap and re-timed the engine. Sometimes relatively easy things become a whole lot more involved than you could have imagined.

 

It's really not that bad of a job. Just did mine a couple of weeks ago and used my floor jack with a 2X6 going from front to back rather than across the tank. Toughest part is disconnecting the fuel lines, though having a body lift made it more manageable.

Didn't realize there was another member so close!

 

I did it just laying it on my chest and handling it with knees, elbows and hands. Most difficult and frustrating task was lining up the fuel lines and getting the threads to catch. I could only reach in with one hand in an akward position. Finally after a few hours I got it.

I emptied the tank before I started, it was almost full and i got all of it out before i started.


Jan
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Its not to bad, I did mine with a floor jack and jack stands. I think the hardest is dis-connecting and re-connecting the fuel lines. There isn't much play in those hard lines and if there rusted together its even harder to break them loose. It probably isnt an issue with you since your in the south, but getting the skid plate bolts and strap bolts loose were a pain. I had to spray mine with liquid wrench and let it soak in for a bit.