Thread: Defender 110 td5 2002 fuel pump aperature again

Following on from good advice gained from this forum , I have now cut the 200 by 200 mm aperture in the floor plate only. I discovered under the floor a cross support member and a front to back support member which as yet I have not cut. Having never removed a pump i am wondering if when released the pump can be wiggled out perhaps by increasing the hole size towards the front and avoiding cutting these supports.
It may be that only part of the support needs to be machined.
As an engineer with some experience of equipment in the bush I am reluctant to cut supports but will if absolutely necessary.
I have my own cover plate not a brand one.
Any advice would be most gratefully received.
Cheers Obi

Eddy, Thank you very much for you very informative reply, the picture is worth a thousand words
Obi