The minimum fuel pressure needs to be at least 55 psi. Your pump is only developing a maximum fuel pressure of 52 psi, That is below the minimum pressure required for the engine to run properly. You need a new fuel pump!

 

Is there a fuel pressure regulator in the system??

 

According to the Haynes manual for 1999-2006 Silverado's spread open in front of me, there is a fuel pressure regulator. On the 2001 V8 it requires removal of the intake manifold cover to access. You then detach a vacuum hose, then detach a retaining clip, and then detach the regulator. It says to out a film of oil on all of the o-rings before reassembling. There is also a small filter disc that can be contaminated and need cleaning or replacement.

 

So maybe before getting another pump, check it's pressure before the fuel regulator - that may be your problem part but sounds like lots of fun to change

 

It looks easier to change than the fuel pump, since that is on top of the tank. On my pickup, I removed all the bed bolts and we lifted the bed and walked it back enough to clear the fuel pump.

On the V8 to get to the fuel regulator, you are just removing the intake manifold COVER - which I think means just that Vortec logo-ed plastic cover. Not the intake manifold itself. The V6 you have to remove the top half of the intake.

The question is whether there is a place to check fuel pressure before AND after the regulator. I am not sure there is. The regulator appears to be inline in the feed to the fuel rails.

Here is a video showing how quickly the regulator can be changed:


Super easy looks like. Might as well change that before going to the effort to replace the fuel pump, in my mind...

 

If your fuel filter is before the regulator, that may be a good place to check pressure
@jfmorris for the nice vid!

 

The fuel pressure regulator will either be good or bad. No in between. Easiest way to check the fuel pressure regulator on a Vortec V8 is to remove the vacuum hose and see if fuel runs out of either the fuel pressure regulator or the vacuum line. If there is fuel, the internal diaphragm of the regulator is bad and you need a new fuel pressure regulator.

The fuel injection system pressure test port will be on the fuel injection rail below the plastic intake manifold cover. That is where you attach the fuel injection system pressure gauge. There is no test port by the inline fuel filter.