droping the tank

[PA-XJ2]

Hey, i just had an electrical fire about 3 months ago and it cooked my fuel pump, i tryed to drop the tank but when i started to take out the bolts for the skid plate(its a real steel one not one of those little platic ones) and there is a plate in the frame that is suppose to have 2 bolts holding it still but at some point some one removed them so the plate just twisted in the frame and i cant get the bolts out to drop the skid so i can drop the tank and replace the pump(p.s. will a fuel pump from a YJ work on a XJ?) if anyone has any ideas besides cutting the bolts(i dont mind if i have to, im ganna build it for trail only and i may just do a fuel cell) thanks
-Keep Jeepin

[Kodiak Spirit]

maybe you can cut an access hole in the sheetmetal to get to the metal plate, and then after the job is done you can just weld it back up. I have seen this done to replace bodymounts after the rust sets in...

[PA-XJ2]

thats a good idea im just afraid of cutting metal that close to the tank it still has about 1/2 tank, but i dont think anything should happen i just dont want a peice of slag to hit the tank and burn through