Fuel Pump Replacement Blues

[hiwaycruzer]

Hello fellow GM truck gearheads...
I finally got up the nerve to replace my whining fuel pump. I watched the you-tube video a couple of times and took the plunge. Everything was going according to plan until I got to the rear tank strap. The 13mm tank strap bolt was hard as hell to turn, and after I got it half way out, the 'stationary' nut inside the cross-member broke free. I had to put everything back together because there's no way I can take that cross member down lying on my back. I hate to say it, but I had to throw in the towel and admit defeat. I don't cherish the thought of taking my Hoe to a repair shop and having to be at their mercy.


Have any of you guys run into this problem, and if so, how did you resolve it?

 

[BattelWagun]

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THAT CROSSMEMBER. Any chassis/frame supports would be left untouched, as when removed they can cause issues because your frame will lose its strength or possibly even shift out of square.

As for the nut in the frame, it does indeed suck that it broke free.. Can you post up some pics? I'm just a little confused because both of my tank straps had external bolts, I didn't need to loosen anything on the frame. Do you have a 2 door or a 4 door?

also, welding it back may be your best bet.

 

[hiwaycruzer]

Thanks for the input, BattelWagun, and for the heads-up on not removing the rear x-member...
It's a 4-door and tank strap bolts are external, same as yours. If I could find out exactly what kind of fastener holds the tank strap bolt, I may be able to figure something out. I think it's a nut that's been pressed onto some kind of rectangular, removable clip...

 

[96GMCYukonGT]

i cut the bolt and got a new nut and bolt and just welded the new nut in place

 

[hiwaycruzer]

re: 96GMCYukonGT
Thanks for the suggestion.
Did you weld the nut on the external side of the cross member? Did you use a filler/gasket between the strap and tank to take up the slack created by using this set-up? Or did you not compensate for it? How did you remove the the remains of the old nut and bolt from the x-member hole?