help identify fuel problem

[Project86]

heres my setup right quick.
383 built stroker. proform 750 dp.
i have a boat style fuel cell for now mounted on the top of the bed behind the axle.

holley red electric fuel pump.

the pickup for the tank is a tube style, coming out the topback right corner of the fuel cell into a 90 fitting. 3/8" fuel line going into the input side of the pump.

3/8" short section of fuel line clamped to a 3/8" hard line.

hard line runs lenght of the frame, the comes to another shorter piece of 3/8" hose, to fuel filter, and finally my AN fuel rail.


just replaced the fuel pump with a newer unit, since my old one was roughly 4 years old.

when i first turn on my pump, i have roughly 6.5 lbs of pressure at the fuel rail.

after driving for awhile it will creep down to 3lbs. but still run relatively fine.

last night while cruising around, it died on me three different times. each time i had to pull over. wait for the fuel bowls to fill back up, and it would start fine and run fine for a little while.

after my cruise, i brought it home.
kept the fuel pump running, disconnected the fuel line from the output side, and it would spurt fuel.

i undid the pickup tube from the fuel cell. shook it out a little bit and cleaned it. reinstalled. turned the pump back on and a steady stream of fuel came out.

i have yet to test everything at WOT yet.

but im wondering if the vertical pickup tube style is whats causing my issues.

if so, could i easily drain the fuel, and retrofit some kind of bottom style siphon onto the tank itself.