Cool! I'm glad you found the true culprit. If it works OK now and doesn't misbehave I think you are good to go. I'd get a FP gauge and check the lift pump too.(Or install it and be able to watch it all the time)
IMHO since you found the cause and have remedied it I wouldn't be too worried about the VP44- but to keep a paper trail for any potential warranty issue could prove worhtwhile.

AlpineRAM

 

Good news!!! Your truck is fixed AND you learned quite a bit....as did the rest of us! Thanks for the update.

 

EXCELLENT!
Now where's that break-our-arm-patting-ourselves-on-the-back smiley.

Chris

 

Excellent work "dessertram". That trick of using clear vinyl tubing sure lets you know what is going on in the injection system, although you never really saw bubbles. You are probably the 5th person I've seen post with the starting problem "uphill" and all were the fuel lines leaking. The vinyl tubing sure worked for me. Even after I fixed mine, I saw minor bubbles in my 91 supply line and it was due to the return line depositing fuel from top of tank module. Sure enough in about 94 Dodge re-designed the fuel tank module return such that a 10 inch fuel line addition put it to the bottom of tank so the pickup did not foam in low fuel level situations. I learned this by talking to the parts man at the dealership. Normally not a big problem but it amplifies surging sysmptoms from other injection faults. Never would have discovered that design fault except with that clear tubing.