fooisdone

I know that this topic has been beaten to death with a stick, but have not found what I am looking for by searching the forums.

Here is the condensed version:
About 1.5 - 2 months the old beast has been feeling like it has lost a little power
Two weeks a go it smelled like diesel in the engine compartment.
I take it to the car wash an clean the whole thing. After waching the engine idle for 10 min I find the LP drips one drop ~5 min
That weekend had ot make a 300 mi trip. (no load, never over 65) now the power loss is more pronounced.
Get this, In the middle of the trip I had some one look at it and was given this advice: "You dont need to worry about that, when it goes out you can just change it and she'll run like new"
My dad gave me a used LP out of his bone yard. (10k -15k mi on it)
Limped her back home. Started reading DTR and got the edit scared out of me.
I put together a fuel pressure guage. I got 0 PSI at idle
Put on the bone yard LP and new fuel filter
Now: 6 PSI at idle
7 PSI at 40 MPH
6 PSI at 65 MPH
can go to 3/4 pedal and still have over 5.5 PSI
At WOT the PSI drops like a stone, Got down to 3 before I let off.
With these pressures I get the feeling I be in the market for another LP soon.


My questions:

Did I do any real damage to the IP / How much longer will the IP last?

Can I put a piston pump w/o changing the cam? (found one on ebay for $125)
If not what kind of pump should I get? ( looking to spend $100 or less)

Can drive my truck like this for a month or so that way I can build up some cash so i dont have to take the hit all at once?
I will only be driving in town,
> 40 MPH, 2 mi to wallmart, 1 mi to laundromat
and the occasional "edit woke up to late to walk to class need to drive"

Thank You in Advance

wannadiesel

The VE is a pretty tough little pump, if the power is back to normal you probably didn't hurt anything.

There is a vane pump at the front of the VE that feeds the internals. As long as you have positive pressure you are not starving the pump. Your pressure readings are normal for a diaphragm pump and will not hurt anything.

The piston lift pump is easy, but not necessary with your current fueling level. You can find out more info on the installation by taking a look at the sticky at the top of the 1st gen page.

Bob Beauchaine

Keep in mind that there are 2 piston pumps. One fits 2nd gen trucks and runs at a much higher PSI and will ruin your VE pump. The other runs at a lower PSI and is designed for 1st Gen trucks. They look identical but the fittings a different.

Bob

JimmieD

Any further info on which pump is which, how to identify or what years/engine series they're found on? Part number? Thanks....

wannadiesel

Part numbers are in the FAQ. Rotary IP's use a low pressure pump, inline IP's get the high pressure pump. You won't find a low pressure piston pump on a Dodge, it's gonna be in some industrial or construction application. If you have a high pressure pump laying around, get the rebuild kit for a low pressure pump. The rebuild kit includes a new pressure spring. Swap springs and you have a low pressure pump.

JimmieD

Thanks for info!

fooisdone

So the VE will have no problems with low pressure as long it is above 0 PSI?

What is the max pressure the VE can handle?

wannadiesel

Mine is doing fine with 18 psi. (I have a low pressure piston lift pump.)

If you have positive pressure at WOT the pump will be OK.

fooisdone

Thank you for all you help