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Lifting truck bed on Chevy Silverado

WebSlave

WebSlave

It is what it is, but certainly not what it was.
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I know this really has nothing at all to do with fauna stuff, but maybe someone will find it of interest.

Connie's truck has been acting up lately (gas gauge going bonkers, hard starting after it sat for a couple of days) so I figured the fuel pump needed to be replaced. I called the local Chevy dealership to see what they charge, and got a price just shy of $1,000. Not including tax and other incidentals they always add into the bill. A brand new Delphi fuel pump from Summit Racing was only $190. Heck, I could see where I could save $800!

Anyway, I watched a lot of YouTube videos on how to change out the fuel pump, and there seemed to be three methods commonly employed:
  1. Drop the fuel tank from underneath.
  2. Lift the bed off and set it down somewhere out of the way.
  3. Remove the bed bolts on one side, loosen the other side, and tilt the bed up and out of the way.

I decided on trying a fourth method. Use the left arms ABOVE the bed, and lift the bed up. Then with muscle power, roll the truck forward about three feet or so, leaving the fuel pump exposed and easy to get to.

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This proved to be very easy to do. The pump was very easy to get to, and could be pulled straight up and out of the gas tank. Had to solder in a new and improved electrical connector, however, since apparently the pumps have changed a bit since 2001.

Putting the bed back on was a snap, too. Simply rolled the truck back to where it had been when the bed was lifted off (I marked the floor as to where the tires needed to be), insert the bolts with a little minor positioning of the bed. Then tightened everything down and put things the way they were before getting ready for the lift, and done.

Oh, I also replaced the fuel filter and fuel pressure regulator earlier.

All in all, a relatively easy way to keep $800 in my wallet. :thumbsup:
 
Great idea, Rich! How long did the job take?

The truck looks really nice for its age. Of course, I'm up here in the salt belt, and we add a couple hours' labor time to everything, for dealing with all the corrosion!

Kathy
 
Heck, I'm not sure about the time it took. I just don't seem to pay attention to such things. Plus it wasn't contiguous time. I had the bed all strapped up and half of the bolts out, filler tube disconnected from the body, and tail lights unplugged ready to go when the hurricane moved in and put that project on hold. Plus I took some time to clean the truck's frame up a bit, and then took all kinds of precautions trying to keep any gunk from falling into the gas tank when I removed the old fuel pump. I never was very good at time estimations and management. Whenever I start something, I just figure it will take as long as it takes to get it done, and not a moment sooner or later.

But I can tell you this. If I have to do this job again, I'm betting I would have it done in two hours, max, even taking my good old time with it. Especially since I wouldn't have to solder in a new connector again. I wasn't sure my method of lifting the bed that way would even work, so I was very cautious about every step. The cardboard was there just in case the bed tried to swing towards the cab when it came off of the frame. Wouldn't want it to scratch up Connie's truck! But everything just felt smooth, solid, and under complete control.
 
It's nice to be able to take the time to do something like that without having to rush it!

I'm just wondering why the dealer quoted such a high price. The shop I work at rarely gets more than a few hours labor on a job like that. Of course, the pump prices vary, depending on the vehicle make/model, but $1k still seems way too high for a fuel pump.

Kathy
 
Actually, I was expecting that price when I called them. They put in another fuel pump in that truck several years ago, and the price was pretty close to that even back then. I just believe this dealership soaks anyone who has the misfortune of having to go to their service department. Actually, their sales department is the same way, which is why I had to drive up to Washington D.C. to buy the vette I wanted. The local dealer just was not coming even close to a fair price, so I just went elsewhere with my business.

Jeep dealerships, btw, are the same way, so I presume it is just this area that car dealerships are that way. So I had to drive up to Georgia to buy the Jeep.

As for parts cost, heck, I knew that was going to be substantially higher than I could get it elsewhere. But Connie didn't want me to chance injuring myself with doing this job, and I had to convince her that it would be foolish to pay that money for something that we really could do ourselves.

Fortunately I proved to be right about this. :)
 
My mom had a 2000 GMC Sierra - basically the same truck, except it was a single cab with stepside bed - and it cost just under $1100 for the stealership to replace her fuel pump. I'm thinking the :censored: gouged her for damn near $500 just for the part. Unfortunately, it went out in the dead of winter, while I was driving it in a snowstorm. It wasn't a job I was equipped or inclined to tackle - especially considering the weather.

Think my old Cherokee may need a new fuel pump; luckily their pump is on the side of the tank, so it's fairly easy to get to.
 
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