This is a follow-on to an old thread about making an access door for 98 and earlier fuel pumps from Eboggs.
http://www.ls2.com/forums/showthread...ight=fuel+pump
My car is a 2000 V6. I've been hearing the pump whine sometimes, so I know I need to get is replaced.
Here are some pictures. I used a Dremel with a metal cutting wheel. It took two wheels to cut the whole door.
I scored (but did not cut through) along the "hinge" section. The job is not done. I still have to get the fuel pump replaced. After everthing is done, I'm going to put a screw down piece of metal over the door and seal it with silicone.
The big difference from 98s and earlier, as others have noted, is the 99+ access area is more rearward. Also, the critical area during cutting is the driver's side of the rectangle where the line marked, "FUEL FLAMMABLE" is located. All other areas leave you 1/2 inch clearance, but at that point, the fuel line is less than 1/4 inch (say about 1/8") from the sheet metal that you are cutting through.
I found the Dremel was very easy, but created lots of sparks. I just pushed up the carpet to create a barrier from the rest of the car and had absolutely no mess.
The top of the fuel tank had lots of gray south Florida sand/dirt. You can see how I wiped it up some. The pump assembly appears to have done away with the screws in the 98 and earlier models.
I've just got it duct taped shut for now until I get the pump replaced. I''ll also paint the bare metal edges with Rustoleum.