How Bad should this hurt performance? The car actually pulls pretty hard but I could tell it was laying down slightly. After the Heads/cam install I felt like the car was fast, but maybe there is more left in it. If a new fuel pump makes the car any faster I would be a happy camper!

 

18psi It's time for a new fuel pump or fuel filter (or both). You should never drop below 40psi, ever.

Ryan

 

you need a fuel pump or filter bad.

 

If you have the stock fuel pressure regulator, your fuel pressure should be around 43 psi at WOT and the low 30's at idle.

 

With only 18psi at WOT, you are losing 35% of the flow through your injectors. Unlikely it would run so well as you described. Are you sure you have the pressure gauge hooked up correctly?

 

I used the fuel rail but I removed the core in the schrader, and ran a braided line to a liquid filled guage taped to the windsheild. Maybe my guage is bad?
I took it for another ride and if I blip the throttle it will shoot to 43 then quickly swing down to about 30. If Cruising and I floor it, the needle quickly swings to 20 - 25, I am afraid to stay in it with only 20 psi. Part throttle will hang around 30 psi.
The car seems to pull good......but like its laboring to RPM. I have and old oil pressure guage maybe I will use that to confirm the numbers.
The sparkplugs are white, so I wanted to get it dynoed with a wideband, but before I dyned I wanted to make sure the pump was good. I will replace the pump as it has 60k , any other suggestions or thoughts I appreciate!

 

running lean is the worst thing you could ever do...i wouldn't take chances...