I tried to prime my filter with the primer handle on the lift pump today with no luck. I know that the cam could have been out of position but after manualy filling the filter I tried a couple of times to spin the engine and prime with the handle with no luck. Murphy's Law may have stoped the cam in the wrong place every time. I will try to manualy spin the engine 90 degrees. I have a couple of questions now. For fuel pressure can I remove the low pressure bleeder screw and test there with a fuel pressure tester? I plan to do a vacuum test of the fuel pump. That should tell me if I have any restriction in the tank from either the sock or lines. I also plan to do a volume test. Those are the two tests that Alldata calls for on the lift pump. If I pull the wire to the IP solenoid will that protect the high pressure lines from getting air while I spin the engine for a volume test? Thanks for any help on this.

 

That bleeder is an odd size. I bought high flow banjo bolts with a pipe plug in it, that is where I tapped in with my gauge.
I think the best test is reading fuel presuure under load, that tells you if the pump can keep up.
If you have problems, I would go with that piston pump.

 

I agree and I do plan to install a gage. There is no such thing as to much info about the engine. My desire now is to find out if I have a problem and get it fixed without waiting for gages and fittings. My pressure gauge has a tapered adapter that I can hold in the port after removal of the bleed screw for testing if the reading at that point is a good test point?? Even after I install a gage in the dash I would still like to be able to verify when the gage shows low pressure. There is a post in the forum that indicates that an otherwise good pump can have problems priming. The truck starts and runs great but I do want to protect the IP.

 

Yeah, that's where you should put the gauge since it's after the filter. The stock pump puts out 8 psi best-case, so a tapered rubber adapter will seal it OK if you hold it in there.

 

All worked out. I went out this morning and bumped the engine. Primer worked as advertised. Pressure read a little above 7 psi. Vacuum was a little high. Probably got a cloged sock or worse considering how much trash was in that new filter. Thanks for the help.

 

remember, the fuel pump may read good when cold and during cranking. The true test is under full load.
But if you have 7 PSI during cranking it should start and run right away.