Hello!
I'm helping a friend with his 1985 c4 corvette. Not gonna lie, im starting to feel a little frustrated about its current problems. This baby sat for well over 15 years. He's the original owner. His son tried to revive it with zero experience. He brought it to me with all the injectors out and missing every bolt to the plenum. I got everything that it was missing and it took a bit of extra starting fluid to get it going. Once it turned on it was running great with plenty of power, but I couldn't have it running due to a leak from the radiator. Finally replaced the radiator and it was running fine until it died due to water in the tank. I wasn't aware of the water. I thought the son had done all that already. And this is where the nightmare begins. That's when I replaced fuel pump and filter, cleaned injectors, blew air through the lines at the pump with fuel rail not installed. and still just cranks. Fuel pressure is erratic from 25-35 psi. Fuel pressure also drops about 3 seconds after cranking. That's when I replaced the fuel regulator and cleaned injectors again. Also replaced the cap and rotor.
Today im going to reinstall the new starter switch and see if that helps. I put the original one back on and nothing. There is power to the fuel pump. I also put the old regulator back on.
I need HELP!! Thank you in advance for any tips.

things I did: replaced starter, starter switch, steering column and wheel, radiator, gutted clogged catalytic converter, replaced fuses on passenger side, cleaned relays by the battery, new fuel pump and filter and finally replace the fuel pressure regulator.

 

Well, to start, I'm guessing you drained (or pumped out) the tank and wiped the bladder out. Also changed the fuel filter underneath the car (passenger side). And then blow out the fuel lines. Does it still just crank?

 

Yes, pumped out the gas and with a rag soaked up the left over gas. Then wiped all the corrosion and gunk out. At the lines, I did replace the gas filter and blew the lines out while the fuel rail was disconnected. I must say, I never thought I see a day when it rains gasoline! 🤣

 

Yes, it just cranks and backfires ones in a while. When I release the starter and keep the throttle open it kinda stays on, but with little to no power then turns off

 

Update....SHE'S ALIVE!
I decided to pull the spakplugs out and clean them with a wired wheel. They were full of gas and super dark. Wish I took a picture of them before I cleaned them. I reinstalled them and on the first try she turned on.
fuel gage is at about 30psi. I know thats super low and if i let go the throttle it bogs down quite a bit.
Hopefully tomorrow I'll reinstall the new fuel pump and the new fuel pressure regulator. I hope that will fix her.
Wish me luck!

Wish she was prettier. Maybe in a few months she'll see the road again.

 

Let us know how it goes. I had a similar problem where I got it running, then ran rich, poor and misfired once in a while. The plugs were super filthy. It turned out to need a burn off module and a mass air flow sensor. The one would take out the other.

 

And you need the proper MAF too! Some of the MAFs listed as replacements don't have the appropriate burn off circuit so it trips the ECM into an error upon restart when it didn't find that circuit! Glad you both solved your problems.

OP-would be nice to figure out why there's so much gas getting there. Maybe it was one of the things you replaced already but could also be injectors.