Let me ask my questions first then give the background info as it may be a long tale...

'97 Disco I - 175,000miles
Any recommendations on a fuel pump?
Any recommendations on a fuel pressure regulator?
In other words, should I get the best fuel pump money can buy, don't but this brand, DO BUY XYZ brand, buy the cheapest, everything is fine, etc.

My fuel gauge goes from full to empty once I hit about 90 miles. This has been happening for about 6 months now and I've just lived with it, filling up every 250 miles or so.
A couple weeks back, we went on a road trip and one of the fill ups was in a VERY small town in nowhere Texas. No long after that fill-up I got a 1179 code.
My short term fuel trim #'s were 24.22 and LTFT was 12.50
I got some LUCAS fuel injector cleaner and filled up at a SHELL (93 octane, I always use 92-93 octane) and after about two fill ups and another bottle of LUCAS it seemed to get better. When I got home, I cleaned the MAF sensor and the throttle body.
My fuel trims are now STFT -1.6 or so and LTFT -2.3
Currently, I'm getting 12 mile per gallon average when on my last long road trip I was getting 14-16 average. That was winter and it's HOTTER than the DEVIL'S ankles here now.

I put a pressure gauge on the fuel rail and I see 30 PSI with the ignition in position II and 28ish on idle. When I pulled the vacuum hose off the fuel regulator I get 36-37ish PSI.

I've changed the fuel filter about 6-8 months ago. My fuel gauge isn't working right, goes to full then drops to E at about 90 miles.
This Disco has 175,000 miles on it and I'm pretty sure it's the original fuel pump but not 100% sure.

I'm thinking the fuel pump sock filter might be clogged, not sure why the float is weird and from what I researched the fuel regulator might be faulty.

If you've read all thisI ask, what cha think? We are about to go on a two week road trip and I'd like to get this sorted.

Thanks,
dcphotos

 

I went ahead and got a pressure regulator off RockAuto for ten bucks. I figure I can see if that's the problem and then decide later if I want to go with a more expensive regulator.
My concern is so much nowadays is all the same junk with just a label switched over on the assembly line.

 

I figured out the cause of the fuel gauge going from full to E. The solder was broke and made connection till I used enough gas to go about 90 miles or so.