off topic, fuel pump related, really sorry/ semi emergency

[shweb]

hey this is off topic and i'm really sorry about that but it's sort of an emergency and i don't know anyone to ask and i'm familiar with this site ahh okay

i just got a 4x4 97 chevy silverado half ton and i have to make a trip from texas to florida in it really soon, the problem or potential problem is this...

the fuel pump is buzzing, this means i have to get it fixed. bad news cause apprently 97' fuel pumps and after have all these different parts and it costs a lot of money to fix it, 500-700 dollars according to a mechanic on the phone.

so my question is this... could i make it to florida? how long do these things buzz before your car decides to stop working? at least usually or in your experience. could i probly make it?

the car is in super good condition its got 90,000 miles but it hasn't been driven hard or anything like that everything under the hood looks liek a brand new car everythings new and clean looking still.

and if i shouldn't try to make the trip, is this something i could fix on my own to save money? is it easy to mess up? is it hard to figure out?

i don't want to have to wing it but that may wind up the case cause i'm broke as a joke after buying the friggin truck.

any help is greatly appreciated and i'm sorry for posting about a non-bronco related subject. thanks for any help

 

[76Broncofromhell]

Those Vortec GM pumps are always noisy. They buzz from the factory, which is why GM updated the 99+ pumps. I would say it will make it to Florida provided you don't run it out of gas. It's not too hard to fix though. It's just a simple matter of dropping the tank and pulling the sending unit and swapping it. You'll only need a few special tools like a compression coupler tool and a few sockets. The sending unit as I remember, costs a few hundred dollars complete.

Dropping the tank isn't necessarily difficult, it just takes a lot of time and require moving a lot of crap. I found that taking the bed off is a faster way to do the job.

 

[Frankenhorse]

We have a 98' tahoe and it has buzzed sence we got it. Some days more then others. Its been going strong for the last 4 years I would say its fine go on your trip. I also agree with takeing the bed off to change if and when you need to. I don't have that luxury

 

[shweb]

wow good news all around so far, excellent

 

[Coob]

Yep - my buddies tahoe does the same thing. He was thinking about replacing it but never got around to it.

I would definately give it a look when you get where you are going.

 

[horseman]

If and when you replace it make sure you use a OEM pump. I bought a
pump from shucks and the thing lasted a week. Then my mechanic installed a
oem pump and ive had no issues.