muggins here has just realised that the sealed pipe that is next to the fuel filler pipe on the fuel tank needs opening up by cutting the end off.

Unfortunately the fuel system is finished (with fuel included) and the fuel filler was the last job.

The tank is ally, is there anyway I can open this pipe up?

without A) setting fire to the whole car or B) filling the tank with metal filings.

Not quite sure I understand what the pipe does or why you want to cut it, but I would use the same tool used to cut copper pipes (the one you keep swinging round till it falls apart(the pipe not the tool)) which gives a nice clean cut and also no shards

[Edited on 14/4/10 by Lars]

You may be able to use a rotary pipe cutter like the plumbing ones - depends if you have space to turn it.

Hugh

Its hard to describe but there is a vertical large diameter pipe coming off the tank and next to it is similar blanked off vertical pipe (much smaller diameter).

The fuel filler "kit" I have from Dax includes a filler cap/neck with a take off tail so that the smaller diameter pipe can be connected via a hose to the bottom of the fuel filler neck.

Dunno what its for as the large filler hose and smaller diameter hose both go to the same places.

Does anyone have one of these tools I could borrow?

Sounds like it may be a breather pipe

If it's on top of the tank then just cut it, fuel won't go anywhere.
The cutters only cost a few pounds from your local diy store.

If it's narrow bore use a plumbing cutter, they'll cope up to 28mm (or the ones I've used will). Not sure you'll easily find bigger than that as 28mm is the biggest domestic copper pipe used...

This is the type people are referring to: Pipe cutter