Fuel Pressure Regulator Replacement/Compatibility

[kdenmcfish]

Replaced fuel pump and fuel filter due to non-running condition about 6 months ago; even since, I have 0 PSI at the rail despite the truck running fine with the replaced parts. When the schrader valve is depressed, there is significant pressure in the rail, and I have tested with three different gauges. The truck does take a couple of seconds to turn over, so despite observing no fuel leaking from the FPR after disconnecting the vacuum line, I decided to go ahead and throw in a few FPR since the original is nearly 35 years old.

Of course, I got the wrong part (see photos), put a little too much trust in Rock Auto and did not verify. That being said, in a vacuum I would ultimately prefer to have a quick-connect fitting rather than the threaded on line. I haven't ever done fuel line work, so not super knowledgeable about my options here, hoping somebody will help me out.

My understanding is that the threaded fitting in the front (red arrow in photo) of the existing FPR is my fuel inlet, and then the outlet is downward facing fitting (blue arrow), and of course the vacuum line currently on the side of the FPR (green arrow). The vacuum line will relocate fine; however, I don't have a quick connect tool nor crows foot wrenches handy right now, so hoping somebody has some knowledge of these fittings already and can clarify a few things for me prior to disassembly.

1) What type of fitting is this outlet (blue arrow)? Is there a special tool needed for this connection?

2) What is the best option for swapping from the threaded inlet to the quick connect? I have considered adaptors, also curious if anybody has had luck changing the fuel line itself, and what this may cost.

3) Is it better to just get the drop-in compatible part...?

TYIA

 

[SenorNoob]

I'd absolutely stick to original style parts there. Those threaded fittings were apparently custom made for Ford. There was talk of finding something that fit not too long ago where someone said the closest thing they could find was some Komatsu hydraulic fitting.

If that's like the 4.0, the line going directly to fuel rail is the inlet and the line on the regulator is the return. I got that wrong when I swapped my 1st 4.0 so the 2.9 might be backwards?

 

[RobWigglezz]

It looks like your old regulator has an inverted flare. So you'd need something like this that you would then push a plastic quick connect fitting on the barb