Fuel Pump Installation

[Burbman]

Just finished replacing the fuel sending unit on the 01 GT. Access through the trunk, pump came out with no issues. The problem was in re-installing the locking ring over the fuel pump. I diddled, then fought, with this thing for hours trying to get it to engage all the tabs and rotate around to lock. The new gasket on the fuel pump was pretty plump and hard to push down into the tank opening. I made this "tool" to use to keep the locking ring pressed down so I could bang it with the drift and rotate it:



Just a piece of steel with holes tapped for 5/16-18 bolts. Tightening the bolts kept even pressure on the locking ring so I could tap it around with the drift and get it seated. I'll send it to anybody to needs it, just lemme know.

[L36 Killer]

nice work! Good idea for the locking ring...

[MoarkatsINmuhtrailer]

While your way obviously worked.. The reason it's so hard to push down is because the oring is too dry. I coated it in plumbers grease, you could also use vasoline. That will let it slide around without getting bound up when you push down to fall into the right spot so you can get the lock ring on.

[Burbman]

I had some white lube (plain ol' lithium grease) on there, maybe not enough. I could push the ring down if I used both hands, but then had no way to turn it. If I would have had a helper as BillBoost suggested, one guy uses two hands to hold the ring flat, the other guys taps it around. But, no helper means I had to improvise. I had the back seat out and was going that way, since I was having issues trying to work from the trunk.