Sorry, I've been reading thought this whole site for over a year and I am looking for some quick advice. After keeping my '99 Plymouth running with a leaking head gasket and 140,000 miles- I need to rush to put my Ebay '85 245 on the road. I just replaced the battery as the other one (5 years old) would no longer hold a charge. Now, I can get it started with some effort and get it to rev, but most of the time if I leave it to idle- it sputters and dies. About every third time I try to start it- It makes a really loud back fire. When I put it into gear to roll back and forth in my long driveway, it has no power until I gun it.

I replaced the fuel pump relay with a tested spare and tried removing the AMM harness with no change in situation (I have a spare AMM too)

Over the next few days, I plan on checking the plugs, changing the fuel filter, and pulling the in-tank pump to see if it's al right. I have two weeks to get it on the road and limited time with a two year old on hand and a wife that plans on leaving me (She just ruined a rim and tire on her 2005 today and I have to get one tomorrow before I go to work)

Anybody willing to help with a checklist or recommendations to ease through this?