Yes you can run it without the gauge, but its not a good thing to do!
Not sure...
No, I do not have one yet. I am ordering one Thursday and have it over-night shipped so I can install on Sunday. I will take pics of my pump, etc.
In my opinion it may be worth just dropping the tank and making sure nothing is pinched.
ALSO, make sure if you jacked the car up you did not pinch a line! Seen that happen too!
Unity may be one to something here.
If you didn't disconnect the fuel lines before lowering the tank, you may have easily pinched/kinked the fuel lines..when you put it back up..
When I did my pump the first time, I had a helluva time getting the lines situated for the reinstall without bending and pinching them.
The walboro install in a first gen is very easy, you dont have 1/2 the issues the second gens have with the bucket and such.
Hardest part about the first gen install is to NOT BREAK or even BEND the fuel pump sending unit..{as you have seen)
The rubber thing on the bottom is only a vibration isolator, no worries there.
But.. you do have to find out if you have pinched one of the external lines..
OR if you have a internal tank leak via the rubber hose at the top of the pump.
The kit SHOULD have had a replacement hose, the one I got from
www.50resto.com did. If yours didn't then you didn't "save yourself any money.. or trouble" by going with that "advanced auto" store.
Did they include the replacement hose?
IF not.. I'd be SUPER PISSED.
Also.. if you didn't "remove" one of the fingers on the pump bracket and just jammed the pump in between those two fingers, then THAT might be the entire issue all together.
If the "INLET" to the pump is pinched between those two fingers... then it could probably be pinching off the fuel.
When I did mine... on my first gen, there was NO WRITE UP, for a first gen OR a second gen.
I went into it blind.. and had no problems whatsoever.
It's a very straighforward replacement, with little or no fabrication needed.
simply remove one of the pump bracket fingers, install the new hose, install the pump and put the tank back in the car.
You'll do better your "second time around" now that you are familiar with what has to happen.
Sucks.. sorry, wish i could say "click here" and your problem will be solved.
TIP: when someone that has "done the job before" tells you to do a particular thing... your best bet would be to "follow" the instruction and not just "jam things back together".
P.S. the fuel sendind unit ins't really cheap... and you might as well replace it when you "dive back into the tank".