Well, after 4 years, my rig has finally done it...

[ParadiseXJ]

Don't forget--check pressure AND volume.

Can you explicate that a bit more, sir? :lecture:

That sounds familiar...

Oh yeah, it was a conversation with my doctor...

 

[SanDiegoOverland]

Okay, well i got the pump lock ring back on, finally. I just took my time alligning the pump in the tank. Once seated the ring fit a lot better. I sprayed the ring with wd40, put pressure on it with two flathead screwdrivers and wiith a bit of encouragement it grittily spun clockwise back on. No tank dropping required.

So, i buttoned everything back up, reconnected the positive battery terminal and primed the pump with my key. It fired up after a couple cranks.

Fuel pressure at idle: 39 psi

Nice!!!! I checked for fuel leaks, and took a test drive. Night and day difference. More power, no sputtering and no sign of any bogging even when flooring it up a nearby hilly street.

I'm cautiously optimistic that the hose being detached was the source of most of my issues.

 

[SanDiegoOverland]

Well, took it for an extended test drive from el cajon to santee/lakeside today. I stopped several times on the way, and included a short 65mph run on the freeway, too.

Results:
-Restored fire up from 20-30 cranks to about 2 cranks
-Reduced raw fuel smell from exhaust
-No bogging, sputtering, or loss in power at 2500 rpms
-More power from my "seat of the pants"-o-meter, than I remember having in a while.
-Car now glows in the dark and smells of roses D)

Awesome. I'm stoked.

 

[SanDiegoOverland]

Several weeks later...continues to run like there was never an issue.

Note: i did end up having a fuel leak from the locking ring area. I ended up spending around six dollars at napa to get a new locking ring and sender o-ring.