1st of all i have starting issues, ran rough, then shuts down. When it does i can hear a vaccum/hissing around the injection pump (VE). So i go swap filters and notice nylon tape around the banjo fuel feed bolt at the fuel filter base, i replace that with a crush washer, better but still runs rough and dies. So i pull filter off and as im turning wrench the whole filter base is turning with filter! i finally am able to get filter off since the "ring" thats turning with filter has a electrical plug going to it and hit the side of engine. I threaded it back in its place before i put filter back on and got it as tight as i could, was fine for the 1st run at idle and part throttle, ran great actually, but is back to hissing and gurgling again. Is there a O ring or gasket between that base and the head it screws into (the ring has a electrical plug going to it) that got damaged or is my fuel filter base screwed up?

Thanks in advance!

 

The "plastic" component/ring that I suspect your refering to is a fuel heater and yup it has a o-ring that seals to the head (actually a square cut o-ring) try removing filter then use a roughly dime thick flat piece of metal to retorque center screw (perhaps remove and inspect heater and seal 1st) ck for cracks and poor wire sealing through plastic Hope I helped good luck PS : as I remember that square cut o-ring was a little hard to come by.