This is my first post here, and I wanted to say thanks for this thread. You guys made it possible for me to swap out the pump in my wife's 2000 XLT. I thought dropping the fuel tank would be a dealbreaker because having both sides of the car up on jacks at the same time scares the crap out of me. But you guys have been so thorough, that I felt like I knew the job inside and out before I started.
Some stuff I learned:
It's not strictly necessary to remove the rear driver's side wheel. I used ramps and dropped the spare tire. This gave me enough room to sit up underneath the car and look directly at all the connections. I also didn't have to worry about the car slipping off the jack stands. I know, it's irrational. Sue me.
Siphoning gas is a royal pain. The tube almost never ends up in the right spot, and the tank is just a little too low to get the siphon going reliably. If you have just a few gallons left in the tank, you'll find that it's a lot easier to remove the tank, open it up, and then do the siphoning. I put my tank up on my bench, and got rid of the last two three gallons. It's amazing how much lighter the tank is once it's completely empty. Of course, I don't recommend trying to remove the tank when it's half full or more. It'll be too heavy to move.
And this is my favorite thing I learned. Amazon.com had the Motorcraft fuel pump assembly for $141.00. Not just the pump, the whole thing. Pump, sender, float, prewired, for less than a third of retail, and cheaper than even 3rd party aftermarket pumps.
http://www.amazon.com/Motorcraft-PF..._1?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1291188425&sr=8-1
So no labor charges, saved a couple hundred on the pump assembly, and no soldering or rewiring of a new pump. I am a happy camper. Thanks for the help!