Can't draw from the front tank on my 1994 F250 7.5. Switch on the dash works as it'll show the full tank reading when switched but engine dies. Am I right to assume it's the fuel pump? Anything else to check before diving into pump replacement? Looks like it'll be easier to slide the bed back than to r&r a full front tank.
Thanks..newbie here.

 

I'm a total newbie too - except the fuel pumps lol. I replaced my front fuel pump on my truck 3 times in the past 4 years. 2 pumps went bad fast because parts are crap.

I would say it's pretty likely that it is your fuel pump. One way you can check it is by having someone sit out underneath your truck while you turn the key halfway. If they don't hear a buzzing that means that it's just dead altogether. One time my truck died when I was pulling into my house and it was my fuel pump and my neighbor was smacking on top of my fuel tank and that gave it enough of a jolt to get kicking again and the truck ran.

I believe another way you can troubleshoot it is by disconnecting fuel lines and seeing if turning the key halfway is pushing any fuel out those lines if it still making that buzz.

To do the fuel pump, you'll need to get a few of the Ford specific gas line removers which are cheap. I've dropped the tank and do not recommend that. It's much easier to get a friend to help you lift the bed back from six easy bolts and you have total access to the fuel pump. My third time doing it. I did the entire thing in 35 minutes. All you need is the white looking pump with a couple wires hanging out of it. You can bolt that to the original metal assembly that has the float and everything. Really pay attention to the gasket going on right because that retainer clip can be hard to screw in and might damage rubber. You do not want to damage that gasket because then bad stuff can start growing in your gas tank (I speak from experience... not fun)

 

Generally new aftermarket parts are low quality compared to OEM.

Do you hear the fuel pump turn on when you turn the key to RUN? There is a test port on the fuel rail where you can attach a mechanical pressure gauge. You can also make sure you have power at the pump.

I always drop the tank verses removing the bed. I can do that by myself with a floor jack in my gravel driveway. I replaced the both tanks in the F-150 and the Bronco II tank that way. When I removed the bed for my frame swap, I had to cut all six bolts. Being in California you don’t have to deal with rust issues.

You had stuff growing in the gas tank? That’s weird. I would have figured you were going to say it will leak if the gasket isn’t on correctly.