Fuel pressure low unable to get it about 48psi

Ok got another issue with the excursion figured I would check this after rebuilding fuel bowl and dropping the tank to do hutch mod and fix fuel level sensor.
Ok I got a fuel pressure connection on the input side of the fuel bowl from a guy on ebay makes it nice to check the fuel pressure, times past I did a inline T at the fuel pump.
So I can only get 48 pounds with the engine running and this is with the strongest spring I got from Diesel Orings should be 65-70.
Dropped the tank and the filters were kinda nasty so that is why I am doing the hutch mod for sure and installing a inline screen before the pump.
Got a new pump and pressure went up to 50 still not even close to my target of 65 and this test was using a 5 gallon fuel can direct to the new pump. These tests were done running if I check with cycling the key it gets about 30 psi seems really low to me, I thought in the past it would hit 55 with just cycling the key.

Since the tank is out of the truck I put a return fuel catch can to pressure up the system and see if I have return fuel.
Well I have return fuel coming back but the pressure is only at 30 psi when cycling the key only.
So if I am thinking this correctly I shouldn't see any return fuel until the fuel bowl pressures up to the 65 psi correct?
Oh wait a minute there is a small hole in that brass poppet in the pressure regulator but that shouldn't flow that much fuel?
I am kinda at a loss here any ideas out there?
I am going to check voltage at the fuel pump maybe tonight if I have a chance would assume it would be 11 volts on initial startup?
I have a pump test wiring that I might run directly to the new pump and see what that does to the pressure.

Sad to see Excursion in the garage on jack stands

Ok have an update so here is what I got.
Fuel tank has been dropped.
New fuel pump installed running input to a 5 gallon fuel can.
Return line is dumping into a empty 5 gallon fuel can.
Ran fuel pump power jumpers to a car battery to take the vehicle circuit out of the picture.
Using two different fuel gauges I can only reach about 36 pounds now.
There is what I think a large amount of fuel returning to the empty fuel can that I think shouldn't be there since it is not getting up to pressure.
Once pressure gets about 30 psi you can hear fuel flowing thru the fuel bowl when I hit the fuel gauge pressure release the sound goes away then comes back when it pressurizes back up.
FYI all this is being done with engine off I dont think it is needed to run to check this fuel pressure issue.

I shouldn't hear that much fuel pushing thru the fuel bowl at least I wouldn't think so not at 36 psi that little hole in the poppet valve wont flow that much fuel.
What you think I have an issue with the regulator?

Ok we have an update so on this second or is it third round of looking at the regulator assy, I noticed that the brass poppet that I pulled out, the hole in it is much larger than the Dorman rebuild kit I ordered.
Now I have 60 psi with using the Dorman poppet valve and the black spring from Diesel Orings, I think that is about 5 psi lower than that spring should have but 60 is fine I believe. But the bleed off when you shut it down is real slow and it wont go below 20 so far probably will take some time to go all the way down. Anybody ever look at fuel pressure when you shutoff the vehicle on these 7.3 with electric fuel pump?

pressure gauge correct?

fuel pressure should drop to zero in a few seconds once the pump shuts off.

get an OEM regulator rebuild kit, install it, and be done.... unless there is a reason you need extra fuel pressure?

Two gauges are reading the same so assume gauges are good.
I used a Dorman regulator rebuild kit and noticed the bleed hole is pretty small compared to the one I pulled out of the truck.
I can get 60 psi now so I assumed the large bleed hole is now too big for some reason. Once it hits 60 I get return fuel so the regulator seems to be working or popping off at 60, I still have the tank off that is how I know about the return fuel.
This morning the fuel pressure is 12 pounds so it is going down just taking a long time.
I added the picture of the brass poppet differences bottom is the original and top is the Dorman what you think of the two I cant remember if the factory one was smaller and some reason it is enlarging with time?
What you think of this picture?

Dorman = junk

I've never seen a bleed hole on the regulator. Never actually looked though.

I would again suggest getting an OEM rebuild kit, install it, and drive on.

Make sure the spring is properly seated in the poppet.

Doesn't sound like there's a reason you'd need extra fuel pressure.

The only thing I bought the Dorman kit was for the gasket on the poppet valve cant get those just by themselves, my original was in bad shape.
Then of course I seen the difference in the what I assume is a bleed hole in that brass poppet, so I only used the gasket and the brass poppet out of the Dorman kit. There was nothing wrong with my original parts other than those two things. Yes the body of the Dorman fuel regulator was kind of cheap looking so like you said I wouldn't recommend it for a replacement. Local ford dealer didn't have the regulator part on hand so that is why I got the Dorman was trying to get the EX back on the road wife hates driving my truck since it is a stick.

I wanted to bring up the pressure some before it would be 50-55 pounds when all was good, heard that International wanted 60-65 pounds.