Howdy yall, been doin the creep and lurking for a while but now need help.
I picked up an 86 t/a and she won't fire. Fires off starter fluid, but isn't getting fuel.
I pulled the rails and injectors, they aren't clogged and work, lines are clear, new pump,
new fuel filter, new battery, new fuel pressure reg.

The pump isn't activating, but has power. So, I wired it on a switch with power, it'll turn on now when I want, but she still won't fire. She sort of sounds like she wants to, but never does. getting 43lbs fuel pressure, all fuses are intact.

I came to the conclusion that the ecm was AWOL and not sending power to the injectors,
But this is my first GM so I wanted a second opinion.

On a side note, are there any pickups with compatible parts?
I'm trying to give her a couple inches of lift, was gonna jus drop in 1500 springs and struts, but need longer trailing arms and don't want to get custom made ones; she's a junkyard/mcguyver build. $600 car lol, the ONLY issue being that she doesn't run.
Any help appreciated, this is my work vehicle.

 

Get an ecm from the yard. Also the electronics in the injectors could've just gone bad from sitting and never being ran for years. check your connections and grounds and Check to see if the injectors are getting power or not.

 

The injectors themselves fire, I've applied 43lbs pressure and gave em 12v, they were plugged but are
fine now. Now, whether theyre firing properly, I don't know. I haven't had the chance to check resistance or use a noid tester yet. And based off a few searches, I'm seeing that the ecm is
Located behind the dash on the pass. side, correct?

 

Now this thing is throwing me in a loop. checked resistance on the injectors, all are between 16.1 and 16.4, used a noid light and all work. Now shes suddenly backfiring out the exhaust and intake simultaneously. Replaced pickup coil, ignition module, reset the timing, still nothin.
Back to faulty ECM?

 

sounds like your dissy is 180 out

 

OP said it would fire on starting fluid. If that means it ran for a few seconds, the distributor should not be 180 out.

 

he just replaced the pickup coil and in order to do that you have to pull the dissy. everytime I have had it backfiring out the exhaust and intake it was 180 out.

 

I thought that too, I switched it 180 and everywhere inbetween, nothing changed.

 

OK I missed that. Still, as long as you mark everything, and don't crank the engine with the dist out, you should be able to reinstall without being 180 out.

 

Update, new dizzy cap, coil, spark plugs and rotor.
Re-timed dizzy correctly, she ROARS to life. then dies out, but will stay running on starter fluid.
Checked voltage at the pump, there's a short somewhere because its only drawing 3v, but still running
properly once oil pressure builds.


So back to not enough fuel pressure.
Injectors are good, I've pulled the rails and cleaned em out, blown out the fuel lines, new filter, and new (used) pump. wired the pump straight to a 12v line and still the same issue.
Check engine light still on, all fuses good to go.
Possibly the pump I got isn't putting enough pressure?