Fuel pump lock down ring install?
 

Trying to seat the fuel pump lock down ring/ collar on a 1989 Dynasty 3.0.

The original lockdown collar seems to be in decent shape after attacking its rust with a wire wheel bench grinder, especially the critical underbelly.
The rubber spacer under the lockdown ring also seems decent.

So, trying to re-install original rubber spacer and lockdown ring.

After aligning the lockdown ring to the spacers on the tank seating area, I find that I cannot compress the underneath rubber spacer enough to allow me to start banging away in a clockwise fashion to firmly secure the lockdown collar/ring.

What is the trick to this?
I thought that this would be the easy part.
I am considering creating a thinner spacer out of generic fuel-compatible gasket material. The new spacer would be thinner and allow me to just barely catch the lockdown ring under the tabs on the fuel tank seating area.
Just doesn't seem likely that the rest of the world has not encountered a similar issue in re-installing a fuel pump lockdown ring.

I suspect that I am missing a secret compression step/ technique/ tool to squish the lockdown ring onto the fuel tank.

Try the old seal if it is in good shape... Also... Make sure you have any tab's lined up properly... :)

I am posting this question because even though I lined up the tabs , I could not get the original rubber spacer/ compression seal to squeeze down tight enough to allow me to tighten the lockdown collar.

The lockdown collar would easily slide into place without the original thick rubber compression seal.

I feel that I must create a thinner compression seal if I am not successful in squeezing downward the lockdown collar with the original thick rubber compression seal placed underneath the lockdown collar.

Hoping someone who has successfully done this task can advise me what steps they followed. I pushed down with all my might and was not able to squeeze the thick rubber seal enough.

OK.. Got it.. your using the old O-ring seal..... I that case it sounds like it is swollen to much... New O-ring should do the trick. I would have thought a new one would have come in the box with the new pump?

And you are doing it correctly...You Should be able to compress the seal enough to start the retainer.

It's a force fit. A big hammer and a drift punch...

Thanks guys.

Can't believe how much compression force this will require.

Don't know if I will succeed by myself on this step as I put in much effort already .
Perhaps requires multiple people to compress and simultaneously try to start the turning of the lock-ring.

If the O ring is good It should start easy for maybe 1/2 inch then get hard. Aftermarket O ring may be too thick..

Bought a $5 petroleum compatible sheet of gasket material from Advance Auto. This material is thinner than current seal and allows the collar ring to start. , used a brass drift punch to tighten the lock-down ring.

Appreciated everyone's input. Thank you.

Glad you got that battle handled... Hope it runs good now??? . :)