Help: 1993 6.2l ran dry, bled, still won't start

[Splat]

Have a 1993 GMC 6.2l that was running fine. My dad borrows it last Saturday and lets her run dry. He tried to start it numerous times, then eventually towed the van home. I've put $10 worth of fuel into tank, about 1/4-tank. Here's what I've done so far.....

With IP hot-lead wire off I bled the square fuel filter on top of engine. I can't see another fuel filter anywhere...don't know if there is another(?).

I then reconnected the IP hot-lead and bled the fuel injectors. She appears to be getting fuel at the injectors and the fuel filter. She ran for a few seconds twice, not consecutively, and now I can't get her to run at all.

I put my ShopVac onto the gas fill pipe to blow the fuel towards the engine. Even bled the injectors and filter while doing that, too. She ran twice with the Shop Vac on her for about 30-40 seconds. I was racing her and then she just stalls out. Since those two times I cannot get her to run again.

Again, the fuel pump seems to be running though because cranking the engine I get steady fuel coming out of the bleed on the fuel filter. I can feel the IP solenoid (I think, it's where the pink wire goes) kicking on when I turn the key. The batteries get recharged overnight and I try again. Still won't run. Lastly, when I remove the fuel filler cap there is vacuum there. Anything else I can try? Thanks a lot.
--
Tony

[Splat]

OK, finally got the IP return line off and cranked the engine. Wasn't sure if IP hot-lead wire needed to be connected so tried it connected/disco'ed and either time no fuel came out. So, can the return line be clogged or is it the fuel pump????

[TonyS.]

OK, finally found my old account info so logged on permanently now as TonyS instead of Splat. Hope this confuses noone but me. ;)

Well, I'm at a loss here. :( The (mech) fuel pump appears to be working. I get no fuel at the IP return line when cranking the engine. Could the fuel-out from the fuel filter be clogged? If it was I wouldn't be getting fuel at the injectors though, right? Maybe it's time for a few beers and call it a night. I can't think of anything else.

[john8662]

You usually don't get fuel out the return line when just cranking over the engine, takes so much housing pressure inside the pump to have fuel return.

At least, I've not experienced fuel out the return during the priming.

So, the fuel filter is primed, should just be the one on the back/top of the engine as you've found.

Might crack a few injector lines at the injectors themselves. Crank over the engine until they start dripping on the inside of the nuts (inside, next to line). In a van, I doubt getting to them all is an option, or an easy option.

I just did a dry Marine pump on one of my pickups today, Took 4 good long cranks and I had fuel weeping at all 8 injectors. Tightened em up, Cranked the engine with 1/4 throttle in cab, started to run, kept throttle, smoothed out quick.

J

[TonyS.]

Thanks John. The info about the return line is one thing I haven't read anywhere so didn't know if fuel _was_ supposed to come out during priming. From the amount of times my dad said he tried starting her she probably got a lot of air in the lines. I'll hook everything back up and try bleeding her out again. Thank you, sir!