Fuel Lift Pump

Hi all,please be gentle with me as I am a newbee.
The problem I am having is that if I do not start my Rangie for a couple of days ,its a cow to start,it fires but dies but if you crank it for 20 to 30 seconds it will pick up fuel & run sweet.
It will start first time every time if I use it every day & even after the fault above it will start every time.
My second problem is my lift pump,I tried priming my fuel system to help sort the above problem but nope,would not prime.It did not matter how many times I flicked the engine I could not get any joy.
I removed the Lift Pump & it works fine.I measured the length of the arm on the pump & it was 56mm,but when the cam was at its lowest,from the cam to the block was only 50mm.
My question now is should there be a spacer between the block & the pump,if so does anyone know where I can purloin one.

Best regards

Sharky

might help if you stated age and type of engine just to give us a clue!!

Sorry,Its a 94 on an L Plate 300 TDI, I thought I had posted my probs under the 300 TDI forum short cut.
Apparently it was built for the japanese market (Export) but never got Exported.

Is it an auto,and is it EDC fly by wire or a manual injector pump?

Yes Buddy it is an Auto,no it is not an EDC

jap part dosent matter parts the same ,there is for some a spacer about 6-10mm thick that goes in between pump and block,fits earlier engines too,there is part no for it

Craddocks or Paddocks,for a start.

Thanks all for your help,have tried Craddocks & Paddocks but no joy.They both said I would have to find a second hand one or make one.
Thanks again

Sharky