A couple things I've learned.

 

Before working on truck in winter plug in the block heater for a couple hours since its much easier to work over a warm engine than a cold engine.

 

If your having trouble finding an air leak to the suction side of your fuel system use a shop vac to pump no more than a few pounds of pressurized air into the tank and then see if you find any weeping fuel in the lines or primary filter. A shop vac hose turned backward to blow air out will fit better to the fill neck than trying to stuff a rag around an air hose that may over pressurize. This should help you prime a fuel system as well.

 

 

I love the old block heater trick too. Too bad my cord is shot. 

 

That is a neat idea using the shop vacuum for blowing pressure in the fuel tank. Never thought of that idea. 

 

So I'll contribute by saying for those guys attempting to put the VP44 nuts back on between the block and the VP44. simple trick is wrap a small piece of electrical tape around the nut and this will make the nut fit snug on the socket. This works best with a 6 side socket. Now you can route the extension and socket in without dropping the nut.

Re-doing my fuel line I kept messing up the push lock fitting when trying to remove the old hose.  Neighbor who is long time mechanic showed me how he carefully removes the hose by melting it with the soldering gun.  Using the tip, just slide it up melting the hose toward the plastic ring.  Stop before melting the plastic ring.  If old hose doesn’t fall off, use pliers and peel to separate.  (Probably old hat but 1^st I’ve seen it)

I paid 14-15 bucks for a new cord on my old first gen awhile back. O reillys had an assorted box of them so we sorted thru till we found the right one. I think it was better one than Cummins original.