Do they have to drop the tank to replace the pump? Should I have the tank dropped and cleaned out anyway?

Yes if its an in-tank pump (which it should be). If it looks like its filled with crude then I'd wash it out with gas. HTH

 

If it's not too late, get a Walbro pump - usually about $90 - $120 range and better than the stock Toy unit.
I had a problem with my old 85 with rust in the tank clogging up the intake screen on the pump and the car losing power until the crud would drop off when I shut down the car. It would start and run fine at first until the pump sucked up the crud to the screen from the bottom of the tank.
I dropped the tank and cleaned out about a sodacan sized pile of reddish-brown sediment and it ran fine after that.

 

4SFED,the Walbro IMHO is a gamble.After watching Robert "supraguy31" in the Luxor garage,during the Vegas meet,have to put in a spare mkiii pump that Jay B. had carried with him for several years........ yo get the idea ..... A used,been sitting pump,got him home,the Walbro had less than 5k on it and died...........gimmme TOYOTA reliability,even if it has a high price tag.You get wha ya pay for.


Stan,while the tank is out,definately flush it,just for good measure.I'll guess it's pretty ugly in there.I have yet to see one that wasn't,including O's low milage car.

 

If you need to replace the pump, and clean the tank, you should replace the fuel filter too, which is mounted on the engine block, and is not designed for easy replacement (putting it mildly). Use the search function here to find the several threads containing hints and recommendations on how to replace the filter - it is located in a place where you can't see most of the bolts and fittings you have to remove. Under $30, universal fit is OK, just make sure you align the fuel lines to the scallops on the filter.

 

Thanks. The fuel filters was replaced when we found that there was no fuel pressure and that it was clogged when it was removed. My main issue was whether the tank has to be dropped to install the pump and whether it should be dropped just to clean it. Well it has to be dropped to install the pump so cleaning it will obviously be done.