360 Modena's fuel pump replacement gymnastics!

I used the "upward leopard" position by leaning of the rear bumper and rearmost quarter panel when I replaced the passenger pump.

I might hang from the ceiling in spider pose when I do the drivers side in the future.

 

I used a upside creeper like this and it was still hard to do ! I replace left hand fuel pump all of those 8mm bolts and pressing down the spring in the fuel pump and lining up that damn float and having to smell the gas https://www.amazon.com/Traxion-3-100-Foldable-Topside-Creeper/dp/B00QGXSODA/ref=asc_df_B00QGXSODA/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198151843411&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6425779489651769721&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvd

 

Like this?

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Exactly!

I re-use my harness that I used for hacking the Def-con and NOC list systems.

 

a bit like this
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I did my r/h pump over the rear fender. Wasn't that bad, but I'm tall and bendy. Valve cover gaskets don't look as easy.

 

Anyone know if you can assemble the pump to the mounting plate OUTSIDE of the car before putting it back in? Asking because the obviously pita part of aligning the rubber seal whilst pushing down in an awkward position would be avoided

 

I did my left side pump about 3 months ago. I still have nightmares.

I did it all from the left side of the rear quarter panel. Mostly blind and by feel. I used zip ties to tie up the spring tension a bit. I have no idea why there needs to be so much spring tension on the pump as it sits in the retaining ring at the bottom of the tank. This to me was the biggest problem; trying to hold the pump in place and securing the ring at the top of the pump to the tank with relentless spring pressure push back.

 

did you try installing it / securing it to the mounting plate outside the car before putting it in? Just not sure the angle / room is there. Assume not otherwise folks wouldn’t be struggling so much.

 

I just took my old one loose and put it back in because the smell from the open tank consumed my garage. Struggled at first but then I seated the gasket first into the car and it slid right into place with no problems. I’m sure I got lucky as hell and the new one when it arrives won’t go like that.

 

The struggle is real and it is exhausting. I went through it for 4 days (and several Jim Beams on the rocks) -- having to just walk away and recuperate from the ordeal. IIRC it is not possible to assemble the pump first as the angle needed (in a coupe) is simply too severe to get it into position with the sending unit float and all. One time I actually succeeded getting the pump in only to find that the sender arm (left side pump) had come off. So I had to remove the pump again fish out the float arm and start over again. Of course a Spider is supposed to be easier access. The coupe... it's a crazy ordeal. The patience of Jobe is required.

 

Fingers crossed for you brother. Some here have said it went just fine with little or very little struggle.

 

I just hover over the car. It's actually quite easy then.

 

Hahaha heard.
Any tips on positioning the sender arm?

 

The sending arm has to be in the correct position so you have to kind of twist and feed it just right. I wish I could give more specifics but as I said it's pretty much a blind install and all "feel".

I know some here may scoff at the idea I had that I mentioned. I used a couple of zip ties to pull a couple of the spring coils together so as not to have to be the Hulk just to get the damn pump into the round receiver at the bottom of the tank and then push it down to try and get the mounting screws in. I soaked the zip ties in premium fuel for several days and it had no effect on the zip ties so I was confident that my solution was a no risk deal. Fuel gauge works fine, reads like it should, and I don't see any problems for over 7 months now.

 

Ohhh I didn’t quite follow the zip tie thing at first. But you’re saying you tied it and left them inside the tank?

 

I placed a piece of carpet and a yoga mat on top of the engine and laid on it with my wife handing me tools from the side.

I also considered removing the exhaust and getting in there to get closer.

 

Yup

 

Careful laying on those aluminum quarter panels.

 

Can’t imagine that’s an issue, the wires are zip tied as well on my new pump

 

Exactly.
Not only does it take tension off of the pump it also makes the pump a little shorter to allow for installing it at the severe angle that it enters the tank on a coupe.

 

This^^
All my parts arrived and I tackled this last night. Most I did laying on the engine. Some had to be done fender side. I didn’t tie the springs up. Reused my lock ring because the new one wouldn’t grab the thread. Not a fun job. Anyone considering I would highly suggest you consider a shop unless bloody knuckles and the smell of gas for hours as you blindly remove and replace 8mm bolts from the depths of hell is your sort of thing.