How do you remove fuel tank on 53 plate 90?

Help please,
I have spent all evening trying to remove the fuel tank on my county station wagon 90 because the fuel pump is not working.
It seems imposible to remove, it need to go forward about 1 1/4" to clear the bolts that go though the cross member but it is jammed in with the floor strenthening cross pieces at the front of the tank.
Anybody done this ?
Why is there no hole in the floor to access the fuel pump / float sender as in a series3 LWB?


teedeefive

you can remove the supporting cradle underneath it, undo the jubilee clips holding the tank to the filler and breather and then with careful wiggling and jiggling (if I remember it's forward towards engine, tilt upwards to front, then backwards down and it'll come free).

You should also be able to tilt it backwards so that when sitting in that tiny space by the back axle you can reach in with flexible forearms and access the sender/pump to remove it.

OR cut a hole in your floor with an angle grinder and access it that way, then put a plate over the hole

(you know someone should make a kit for this - with a cutting template and a nice plate with a built in access hand-hole and sell it)

Hi Muddy,
got to the stage of jiggling it out and it seems that it is just to tight to move, its jammed on the floor cross member and the hanging brackets.
Think its time to get the angle grinder out!

should just drop out once the cradle is off as mine did.

i have a spare td5 fuel pump if you cant get your going

Just finnished! No way cradle will come out, ended up cutting hole in floor!
Thanks for the offer but bought new fuel pump yesterday from main dealer.

jeez that'll have cost you!

Mate got me trade price!

Glad to see that I'm not the only one that cut his own hatch to get to the pump . Lot easier than tring to drop the tank. Not to mention that you have to have double jointed fingers to reach in and disconect the pipes.

yer but you have now got a hole in your nice floor !!!!

No.. I am a LITTLE handier than that. Cut a nice bit of plate just slightly bigger than the hole. Beveled the edges nicely and round the hole put in some door rubber that squash down to seal. 6 self tappers oround the edge and I now have a dust/waterproof hatch. Was even thinking of putting in a hinge, but came to my senses. After all my 90 has done over 200 KKMs on the first pump.

mine broke at 48000 miles! I have a nice polished alloy plate over the hole as well.