87 5KTQ Starving for gas

[Mark Suttner]

Recently purchased a 87 5ktq with some built in challenges.  It sometimes
looses almost all power.  It can be running just fine and then will suddnely
start sputtering.  Turning the ignition off and on and it will run fine
again until it happens again.  Sometimes it can happen again in a few
seconds and sometimes it is OK for hours.

While parked with the engine running noticed that the sound the fuel pump
made changed just when the loss of power occoured.  The pump was a bit loud
to begin with but the sound would change similar to a vaccum cleaner when
the hose is blocked.

Thinking that it might be dirt or flakes in the gas tank blocking the fuel
pump screen the tank was emptied and the fuel pump removed.   Amazingly
clean!  But noticed that one of the rubber isolation/mounting grommets was
torn and loose.  Thinking that this could account for the extra loud pump
buzz.

Could it also be the reason for the loss of power?  These gromets also
appear to act as spacers keeping the pump suspended a distance above the
bottom of the tank.  Would one of the three missing allow it to get close
enough to the bottom to cause a problem?

Regards,    Mark

91 200q20v
87 5ktq
86 5ka