Does the engine stall happen when the fuel level is below 1/2 full? Since your fuel level at displayed on the gauge is erractic, it is difficult to know the level. You might try and fill the fuel tank completely. Drive the vehicle and make a hard stop and vigorous left and right turns. If there is no stalling then the problem is that when the fuel gets to a certain level (less than 1/2 tank) fuel is moving away from the reservoir and the pump inlet is uncovered and gets a momentary shot of air which disturbs the fuel supply.
What would cause this behavior of fuel leaving the reservoir and causing a momentary stumble? From a picture in a Dakota service manual, the pump is mounted vertically in the tank. On the bottom of the pump and very close to the floor of the fuel tank there is a round filter assembly. If that has become dislodged for any reason, a low fuel level in the tank will allow the liquid fuel to move away and uncover the pump inlet.
As for the problem of the fuel gauge, the fuel sending unit is mounted on the side of the pump assembly. I suspect the pivot pin for the float arm is worn and allowing the arm to make only intermittent contact with the variable resistor circuit that drives the fuel gauge.
In both cases the fuel pump module will need to be removed and the pump inspected. The easiest solution and also the most expensive solution is to replace the fuel pump. But I would somehow get a fuel pressure gauge mounted in the engine compartment and snake the fuel tester hose such that you can see the fuel pressure while you are driving. Then when the stalling occurs you can verify if the pump is losing pressure. If the pump maintains pressure when the stalling occurs then it is NOT a fuel pump problem.
What would cause this behavior of fuel leaving the reservoir and causing a momentary stumble? From a picture in a Dakota service manual, the pump is mounted vertically in the tank. On the bottom of the pump and very close to the floor of the fuel tank there is a round filter assembly. If that has become dislodged for any reason, a low fuel level in the tank will allow the liquid fuel to move away and uncover the pump inlet.
As for the problem of the fuel gauge, the fuel sending unit is mounted on the side of the pump assembly. I suspect the pivot pin for the float arm is worn and allowing the arm to make only intermittent contact with the variable resistor circuit that drives the fuel gauge.
In both cases the fuel pump module will need to be removed and the pump inspected. The easiest solution and also the most expensive solution is to replace the fuel pump. But I would somehow get a fuel pressure gauge mounted in the engine compartment and snake the fuel tester hose such that you can see the fuel pressure while you are driving. Then when the stalling occurs you can verify if the pump is losing pressure. If the pump maintains pressure when the stalling occurs then it is NOT a fuel pump problem.