Lift pump to high pressure in tank setup

[ryan445]

Hello,

Now with my injectors out of the way and the truck running better, I am still have some fuel delivery issues. Thought it was a TFI, but before going through with an order for a Motorcraft TFI and doing the remote mount setup, I bought a cheap one to test, did not clear my issue. Similar past issue with a TFI made me think this was a TFI issue.

When the truck warms up, it starts to hesitate and "pause" briefly a few times as the rpms climb into upper range. Almost like something grabs the truck and pulls it back and the sound of the engine and RPM's pause in place.


I also noticed today its getting progressively worse as the tank is getting to 1/4.

So I believe that the lift pump in the tank is on its way out. From what ive read, the lift pump can start struggling as the truck warms up and it also warms up from operating. Probably a by product of the truck sitting for 4 years, like the injectors getting gummed up.

If this sounds like a lift issue to y'all. I am looking for some pointers on the in tank high pressure set up. I've read the write up and just want to know if there are any short cuts that worked well for anyone and any other pointers you learned along the way. If I am going pull the bed and get down and dirty on this, id rather do an upgrade to the system rather than just put a new lift pump and have the high pressure go out next down the road.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

New filter?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So, this is something that has been brought up more frequently in recent years. I’ve been pushing for a specific fuel system section since it’s probably been answered a few times but anyway…

The fuel level gauge uses a different range on the 85-88 trucks that have the lift pump and frame mounted high pressure pump than on the 89-97 trucks that use just a high pressure pump in the tank so you have to mix and match to make it work. Personally, after having to repair/replace fuel lines on 3 trucks now because the factory lines started reaching end of lifespan, I’d put an older style sender and newer style tank pump with new lines. The lines can cause issues, I got a boost in how well my Choptop ran after I replaced the lines that were riddled with pinholes.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Oh yeah… @85_Ranger4x4 , you’re being paged

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Yeah, you have to swap the high pressure pump into a low pressure in tank hanger to get the fuel gauge to read correct.

I used a Kemso pump on a Precision pump hanger, fitment wasn't great but it does work well. I had to do a fair bit of grinding and cutting on the hanger to get the pump to fit.

If I did it over again I would try to match brands to see if things would fit better. One of them hand the inlet on the pump offset and one had it centered which complicated everything. Pump was a little taller but the tube was easy to trim.

I ran all new fuel lines but I was converting from carb to EFI so that was part of it.

 

[ryan445]

New filter?

Did that with the injectors. However it just a standard WIX one.

 

[ryan445]

Yeah, you have to swap the high pressure pump into a low pressure in tank hanger to get the fuel gauge to read correct.

I used a Kemso pump on a Precision pump hanger, fitment wasn't great but it does work well. I had to do a fair bit of grinding and cutting on the hanger to get the pump to fit.

If I did it over again I would try to match brands to see if things would fit better. One of them hand the inlet on the pump offset and one had it centered which complicated everything. Pump was a little taller but the tube was easy to trim.

I ran all new fuel lines but I was converting from carb to EFI so that was part of it.

Did you pull the bed or drop the tank?

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Hello,

Now with my injectors out of the way and the truck running better, I am still have some fuel delivery issues. Thought it was a TFI, but before going through with an order for a Motorcraft TFI and doing the remote mount setup, I bought a cheap one to test, did not clear my issue. Similar past issue with a TFI made me think this was a TFI issue.

When the truck warms up, it starts to hesitate and "pause" briefly a few times as the rpms climb into upper range. Almost like something grabs the truck and pulls it back and the sound of the engine and RPM's pause in place.


I also noticed today its getting progressively worse as the tank is getting to 1/4.

So I believe that the lift pump in the tank is on its way out. From what ive read, the lift pump can start struggling as the truck warms up and it also warms up from operating. Probably a by product of the truck sitting for 4 years, like the injectors getting gummed up.

If this sounds like a lift issue to y'all. I am looking for some pointers on the in tank high pressure set up. I've read the write up and just want to know if there are any short cuts that worked well for anyone and any other pointers you learned along the way. If I am going pull the bed and get down and dirty on this, id rather do an upgrade to the system rather than just put a new lift pump and have the high pressure go out next down the road.

Kelso 240lph is excellent pump.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Did you pull the bed or drop the tank?

Drop the tank, I replaced the tank a few years prior so it wasn't hard to drop.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I did a single in tank pump mod too... see more here in the G-Unit build thread.

Post in thread '86 Bronco II... G-Unit' https://www.therangerstation.com/forums/threads/86-bronco-ii-g-unit.195455/post-1917196

 

[ryan445]

I did a single in tank pump mod too... see more here in the G-Unit build thread.

Post in thread '86 Bronco II... G-Unit' https://www.therangerstation.com/forums/threads/86-bronco-ii-g-unit.195455/post-1917196

Thanks for that, that is a nice thread and detailed, made the process look easy.

I am afraid after seeing a few threads here, I should just plan to replace the tank and lines with the sending unit and pump.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I had too... it was a mess.

It was easy.

I just did it the way FORD should have done it from the start.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I used an Evil Energy pump i found on Amazon. The jury is still out on quality.

I did buy a second pump... it's in my travel box.

I set it up to easily be changed. Two screw drivers and a rock is about all the tools needed.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I wouldn’t hesitate to keep a plastic tank, but steel tanks around here are no good. Rust is a nightmare.

There’s two good reasons to redo the lines. The first is age. The second is that to go to a single pump in the tank, you need to at least eliminate the frame pump. Realistically you could also toss the fuel reservoir as well. Splicing stuff in creates more potential failure points on an already old system.

On my 00 and 92 Rangers I pulled the bed to deal with the fuel system. Of course, I also had other work to do that the bed off the truck made convenient, except for when the pump got replaced on the 00 (that was done prior to the lines needing replacement). My 89 Bronco II got an access hatch above the pump by me probably 15 years ago so I didn’t have to drop anything to do the lines.

 

[ryan445]

I used an Evil Energy pump i found on Amazon. The jury is still out on quality.

I did buy a second pump... it's in my travel box.

I set it up to easily be changed. Two screw drivers and a rock is about all the tools needed.

I think I'm gonna unbolt the bed and then tilt it up and support it. Should give me more then enough room to move around. I wouldn't be surprised if the sock is all gummed up and the pump is fine in the end. But if I am going in, i am going all in. I want this old 2.9 to purr like it did when I first bought the truck 17 years ago and keep happy as long as I can.

Some hate the 2.9l. I kind of like is quirkiness lol.

How many miles have your put on that amazon pump, if you had to guess?