Iv been having a great run out of my little 3B turbo for many many years, burns some oil but that's half the experience, Not sure about the VE pumps but inline pump cant even keep fuel up to 12psi, iv thrashed the little 3B relentlessly and she hasn't died yet....
Fuel return pipe down to injector pump can crack and suck air, cracks at the edge of the mounting tab plate.
Hand primer pump can suck air, don't bother with genuine only use a Bosch item.
Lift pump can fail, easy change and genuine available.
Tried running it with the intake pipe removed...
Whistle N Soot here in Aus did a turbo kit on a 3B in a Toyota coaster bus and from memory they did a front mount as well. if you can dig up those pics they would be a big help in some inspiration and ideas for you mate.
not sure on the specs but drop it off at the shop and get them to machine in back a bit, its a 3B not like they run big enough power to stress a clutch
I take the edic rod off before deep crossings so that way its 100% mechanical engine, and if it stalls that deep its going up the exhaust and into the engine anyway.
Run 2 gaskets, on the Thomas pto setup from memory if you remove the drain plug you can get a flat blade screw driver in there and check the backlash on the pto gear that engages the transfer case.
For starters ditch the electric pump, the 3B run the return line back into the transfer pump inlet, so by adding an electric pump you are pressurizing the return line, Fresh diesel, change the fuel filters and clean out the water Seperator, prime the fuel up, crack the injector lines at the top...