93 5.0 low fuel pressure

maybe try a different gauge

If you have 22psi before the regulator it has to be the pump. There is nothing else to look at.

not to hijack, but I have a permanent gauge currently on the cowl and before had

one just on the schrader valve and they both read about 22 psi when idling, that

means the pump is probably bad? And isn't the gauge supposed to go up when

you prime the pump before turning the car on? If so what should the pressure

read? Because I get nothing when I do that

Fuel pump pressure test
Disconnect the larger of the two fuel lines up by the Schrader valve. It is the return line and does not have the Schrader valve on it. Find a piece of rubber fuel hose and clamp it on the return line coming from the regulator. Stick a bolt in the other end of the hose and make sure that all your connections are tight and leak proof as possible. Be extremely caeful that your test connections have no leaks. There is a definite fire hazard when you do this test When this powers up, you don't want fuel squirting everywhere. Hook up the fuel pressure test gauge. Turn the ignition switch on and watch for leaks. You may want to use a helper inside the car to cut the switch off quickly if you have a leak. To trick the fuel pump into running, find the ECC test connector and jump the connector in the Upper RH corner to ground.
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Caution!!! You have blocked the return line for the fuel pump! Pressure will rise very quickly past safe levels with a good pump
If the pressure goes up past 55 PSI, the pump is good and the fuel pressure regulator is bad. If the fuel pressure does not hit 55PSI or more in a few seconds, the pump is bad or you have electrical problems.