Update again:

I got the Actron TBI Fuel pressure tester off of amazon, and tested my fuel pressure and as it turns out, I'm only getting 8 psi, and 7.5 PSI under load (Tucked the gauge up under the hood and brake torqued the engine). So ... this does mean my truck has a fuel issue.

But there's a catch to my testing. I found that the system doesn't prime worth sh*t. My system automatically bleeds down the fuel pressure, just like the service manual(s) say it should. So I watched the pressure bleed down, and turned the key on to prime the system. The problem is that the system doesn't prime more than 2.5-3PSI worth ... and then I can hear the relay cut off, and the system stops priming, and the pressure bleeds down again.

I only get pressure build up when I'm cranking the engine, which takes takes about 3-5 full engine cranks to get to start ...

So what do you guys think? Electrical issue? Bad fuel pump ground? Do I need a new pump?

My working thesis thus far is that I need to check the power and grounds to the fuel pump before I go ahead and replace the pump.

Also, are the airtex fuel pumps any good? I'm looking at either an Airtex or GM/Delco pump. Which would be the better pump?

 

Sounds like a bad pump to me. I would go with the Delco pump. Make sure the harness going to the pump is clean and the ground is good.

 

Well, I went with an airtex pump. I put it in today with my buddies at school.

Believe it or not, doing the fuel pump on my rusty truck wasn't as bad as I expected. I was able to use a lift and transmission jack to support the tank while we slowly and gently beat out the strap bolts with an impact gun. Looked to me like someone else had been in the tank before, because the retaining ring wasn't on correctly, and one of the bolts was in better shape than the other.

Tank was clean, the outside was a little gnarly looking, but I didn't find any holes. The inside of the tank is actually lined with plastic. I also had to replace 40% of my return line, because it was super rusty and covered in gas. So it was leaking before I even got up in there.

My truck runs like new now The thing's got loads of power all the way through the RPM range.