Well I replaced the filter and pump in the tank with a Delphi. Delphi seemed to have the highest ratings of anything available in this area. NAPA had Airtex and the other options were precision and car-quest. I couldn't see anything wrong with the PO's instillatio. It was a precision pump/sending unit combo.
The Delphi kit had a much thicker rubber hose connector that was very tight to get on. i hope it wont be a problem but I didn't like the plastic hose clamps and used standard screw type clamps on the rummer connector. I dont think it will ever suck any air now!

I don't think the tank had filled up all the way the last time I filled it. perhaps because the pump I filled at has a sloping concrete pad where you park making the front of the van a bit higher then the back. I checked the filler neck vent pipe and it was not clogged. But my guess is that the tank had ran dry.

I had planned on measuring the total amount of gas we removed but I had a neighbor helping and my time was limited. We siphoned most of the gas into the new tank for my 85 e150 then used coking oil containers I had picked up from the back of a restaurant, they work great but were only 2.5 gallons each. Being in a hurry, we just sat the 85 tank up on top of a trashcan and siphoned the gas from that tank back into the van.

Though not exactly proper service procedure, I bent the arm on the sending unit upwards a little hoping it would now when the dash gauge registers empty, it wont be empty! WE had put 4 gallons back in the tank and I checked the dash gauge, it was still registering empty. After filling it up, it went way past the full mark like before..

Thanks for all the help and suggestions
Anna