Is there any easy way to drain the tank in a 99 Protege? I need to remove the tank to do some welding underneath and there's no way the sending unit is coming out to siphon it out that way.

 

Plastic tank correct? If so then there is no way that is easy but you could disconnect the fuel line up at the engine or at the fuel filter and pump the fuel into canisters. I have even seen plastic tanks with a big X mark with writing next to them that say "Puncture Here", dont think you want to try that though.

 

It's a metal tank and I already tried unhooking the fuel rail at the engine and turning the key on but not a drop of fuel came out. That's how I did it on my old Topaz but it didn't work on this one.
I have the lines unhooked from the sending unit and I might try hooking up an electric fuel pump to the return line and hopefully get a lot of it out that way.

 

Just use the in tank pump, put 12V directly to it and it will pump, you didnt get fuel because the engine wasnt cranking, alot of cars wont continuously pump now with the ignition just on.