1987 pickup. Has anyone done it w/o dropping tank. It looks like I could. I jumped the terminals in the diagnostics box but the pump did not come on. I then hooked up blue wire and white/black wire from pump directly to battery and it still didn't come on.

 

You sure can. You just have to remove the bed...or at least move it high enough to get the pump housing out of the tank, which is about 12 inches long.

Me personally, I would rather remove the bed then have to drop the tank. However, be prepared to replace the rubber mounting bushings if going this route. It is probably a good idea to to it anyways, but it adds about $80 bucks to the cost. I've done it in about 4 hours this way. You will need help lifting the bed.

It is basically 8 mounting bolts, 2 wiring harness conectors to the rear tail lights and the fuel filler hose. Easy.

 

I replaced my pump sending unit by removing the bed,which was no small task.I was doing a bed swap thats why.Even with the bed removed it wasnt easyI hope you dont run into the problems I had to solve.Like rusted stripped bolts that held the pump in.Im glad I was doing the bed swap cuz it made pump replacement easier.

 

Dropping the tank takes maybe 15 minutes.
Helluva lot easier than taking off the damn bed.

:wabbit2:

 

If the 8 bolts that hold the bed to the frame are not rusty, then the bed comes off quite easily. Like the others said, remove the 8 bolts, remove the wires from the taillights, and remove the screws that hold the filler neck to the fuel door.

I replaced my fuel bracket a couple years ago when I had the bed off to repaint the frame. Here is what it looks like once the bed is off... Don't forget to order the 7 bolts that hold the bracket to the tank. Yours will be rusty and will not be reusable.

 

I gotta disagree with Wabbit on this one.

This is a 1987 truck I will bet all the fuel lines on the pump bracket break. I know in Pa they would.

I would much rather have the bed off to work at this mess.

 

He's in TX so his tank will drop easy.

:wabbit2:

 

You need to come North for an advanced Rust wrenching seminar !!

 

Who wants to deal with that mess?
OP, I always try to follow one rule when it comes to working on anything, "Work smarter, not harder." Pulling the bed off will be working harder.

 

Really? I've had mine off in about 15 minutes, with one helper. No rust issues, though. I'll pull bed again, to replace fuel gauge sender...eventually. Screw all that laying underneath, catching dirt in the face junk.

 

I guess this is a kind of personal choice .

Since I only have one vehicle that has not seen liquid brine or a normal winter I hope does not need a fuel pump change any time soon.

I have an impossible time getting the lines disconnected I end up cutting them when only dropping the tank.

 

Too bad you didn't have a 4Runner...they have the little access door under the rear seat over the fuel pickup/pump. Makes life alot easier. Sorry...maybe you could make one for your self....