I can't even maintain proper pressure with stock injectors and a tune. I'm using a brand new stock pump, the blue spring (which doesn't solve volume issues) and the old style fuel filters from Ford. I am of course, reading fuel pressure behind the heads, but it drops like a rock on the skinny pedal. I don't see how a RR would help that at all, that's a volume issue, not a pressure issue. Of course, every truck is different, but I am always curious to see what guys would read for fuel pressure if they measured behind the heads, instead of at the fuel bowl.
The problem is simple, you are still using the STUPID factory fuel pressure management design. The blue spring is a bandaid AT BEST, and as you've found, it sometimes isn't any better than stock because the system it works in sucks. An RR will ABSOLUTELY do better.
Before I designed our RR kit, my 2004 truck had an EDGE JUICE WITH ATTITUDE (pre SCT days). With the J/A on the hot tune, intake and exhaust (and no other mods), I could stand on it and watch the fuel pressure drop from 52psi to 35psi. That was with unimpressive programming and stock injectors...NOTHING like todays custom programming. I installed the prototype RR kit in the truck, with my stock fuel pump, pressure was adjusted to 65psi and held rock steady from then on. Eventually put 170cc injectors and SCT tuning...still rock steady.
Readers Digest Point: The stock setup is absolute garbage, with the stock or blue spring.
Dennis: are there benefits to a sump supplying the factory pump, getting away from the straws?
In my opinion, absolutely not. Spending money for no gain. Draw straws work just fine in properly installed. The only advantage to a sump is having a lower point to help ensure you don't run out of fuel from uncovering the pickup (which happens because the drawstraw was cut too short and is too far from the bottom of the tank).
From what I've found online people have had better luck running a low pressure lift to the high pressure feed pump. Again that's just what I've seen and I know that needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
Sounds like you've been reading over at FTE, where everyone seems to think that running extra pumps is necessary. There are times and places to consider this. My race truck has an AirDog 150gph feeding a Fuelab pump. It's not because the Fuelab needs it though, it's because I wanted the air removal and pre-pump filtration.
Currently I'm pushing ~420 hp 800 tq and I can't see needing much more than 500 hp 900-1000 tq.
Still doesn't tell me mods.
I am not personally looking for anything huge just something that can safely sustain fuel pressure and if needed have room for improvement later on. Who knows I've been addicted this far I may continue my addiction once I reach my goals. I'm sure many know how that feels!
As far as off-roading is concerned yes my excursion is very well plated underneath I've been rather impressed with the stock plates and how the cover everything. My plates are thick solid pieces. I also don't plan on extreme off roading but there's always that rock you mis judge and I just prefer to avoid that possibility by keeping all filters at or above the frame rails if possible.
I NEVER recommend moving away from the stock fuel pump without good reason. It's the ONLY fuel pump on the market that was originally designed for that truck, designed for very good reliability and durability (because it had an OE warranty to live up to), and they have proven themselves to be good pumps when not starved for fuel or otherwise damaged by outside acts. This goes for the 7.3L and the 6.0L. If RELIABILITY is a concern...stay with the stock pump as long as you can...PERIOD!!!
That said, I would do a regulated return with rest of the system stock and leave it alone until your power production exceeds the capability of the stock parts. Maybe when that happens, you will have another vehicle for your 1200km trips and this one can be a toy and you will be less worried about reliability. I will tell you this, if you have ANY AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMP fail on the side of the road, away from town, it will likely take longer to get the truck fixed and running than if you have a stock pump fail (which you can get a replacement for from any dealership and/or many parts stores...even if it's just a POS chinese copy).
And as for deleting the stock system/bowl that's just a personal goal to clear up some engine compartment room and allow me to clean things up with nice looking fittings and all.
Our system keeps bowl and uses very nice looking hoses and fittings. There's no gain for the extra work at your level.
thats because those pumps are to small to be used on heui engines.
the pumps are being operated at almost 100 percent duty cycle at idle.
common rail engine are fine. they need gpm at low pressure.
heui's need bolth. thats where the problem comes in, of the pump physically being to small.
That may be the case for the ADII, as I believe that the electric motors are too small and run too hard in high pressure applications. I've been testing a high pressure titanium series FASS pump for a long time now, and with our custom pressure spring, it has been flawless. It holds pressure, is quiet and works great. The big difference, the FASS still used the good old ball and seat regulator, the same design it always had and the same design as the original AirDogs (ADII has that goofy internal regulator, which I personally believe is part of their problem). The FASS also has a larger motor and larger pump than the ADII. I would have no problem putting someone in a Titanium Series FASS right now, and I would bet it would give great reliability and a long life, but I still contend that the OE pump is more likely to go longer in a well maintained truck.
I'm in the middle of writing my "How to pick a fuel pump" FAQ for the website because I have this same discussion day in and day out. I've probably talked more people OUT OF BUYING aftermarket fuel pumps than I've actually sold aftermarket fuel pumps. There are very good reasons for keeping the OE parts, and BIGGER IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER. If you can't tell from the tone of this post, I'm pretty adamant about this topic...it's because I've taken the calls from customers stranded on the side of the road, with numerous brands of aftermarket fuel pump. Even when we didn't sell them the pump, it pisses me off when it's a case of someone using a pump they didn't need in the first place...someone that should still be running a stock pump and that probably wouldn't be stuck somewhere if they were. I get even madder when I'm talking to someone that listened to another vendor, one that only wanted to sell a pump and make a buck but didn't take the time to figure out what was actually appropriate for that particular customer. "Oh, you have a Ford, put a blahblah pump in it. That's what all the ford guys run, they are the cats ass". Great for the vendors bottom line, not so much for a customer with a set of stock injectors and a tuner...sell them a pump for hundreds of dollars with no fuel system knowledge to back it up or support it and then throw up your hands and send them to google (where they find us and call for help) when they have a problem...welcome to my world!
