I'm having a problem with my F-150. I have 95,000 miles and the truck is hesitating. I have a 97 XLT 5 spd and the truck is "bucking" during acceleration. It does not occur during highway speeds when on cruise control unless the cruise is going up a hill or accelerating. I have had several people tell me that the fuel pump is going out. I have priced fuel pumps for the vehicle and found them to be over $120.00. I then called "Summit" and they found one (again for more money than I can spend) and said that I could make the truck into an external fuel pump (out of the gas tank). I have three questions. Is this possible? Is the computer linked to the pump to make the pump accelerate during take off? If the computer accelerates the pump during acceleration, wouldn't an external pump be impossible? I hope I have not completely confused you.
Basically, can I put an external fuel pump on the vehicle without malfunctioning the computer? I would eventually like to put more performance parts on the vehilce that might need more fuel later.
If I do put on an external fuel pump, will I need to put on a fuel pressure gauge?

 

my gut tells me that it should be fine with an out of tank pump.... from my experience, fuel pumps are either on or off... and that's it. they aren't controlled by the computer, just turned on and off by the ignition solenoid. the amount of fuel delivered to the injectors is controlled by the fuel pressure regulator on the fuel rails (in the engine compartment).