Okay here is the story thus far:

My 87 240 DL died on me last week. I was at the post office came out and it wouldn't start. Had it towed home and began to work on it. It has been on my list of things to do to change the pre and main fuel pump. I already had some of the parts. So I changed the pre pump. I had to find 1/2 inch fuel line for the sender to the main pump. Asked all the local parts stores and they said that was the biggest fuel line they ever saw, and they did not have it, "go to the dealer" that is what the said. Called the dealer they told me a place in town that carried 1/2 inch fuel line. So after fighting with all the rusted screws and drilling them all out to remove the hose clamps replaced the 1/2 inch hose from sender to main pump.

Now it was time to change the main pump. I just changed the fuel filter a few months ago so it didn't need changed. After all that wonderful fun the fuel line from the filter to the intake manifold cracked at the banjo fitting. So off to the parts store with a little piece of the hose... "That is the smallest fuel line I have ever seen, you need to go to the dealer for that." So another phone call to the dealer. They ordered it on Friday got it on Monday. It came with the connectors on each end that was nice. Got it all on there ready to go.

So now I was ready to fire it up. Cranked it....and now fuel is shooting from the sender on top of the tank. The metal tube on top of the sender had cracked and now was spraying. So time for a trip to the salvage yard. Pulled the sender out of a lovely red brick and off to install it. I got it installed after removing old one taking out new pre pump and putting it into the new sender unit.

NOW I was ready to crank it up! But wait! The battery doesn't have enough juice! It must have died from all the attempts to start it? So pull over the van jump it....crank....crank....crank.......nothing. The spedo jumps when it is trying to start. So about 4 days of solid work and nothing. This is the condensed version, I have put many hours into this.

So here is the current status: When you crank it, it will not start. If you keep the key turned for a long time it will eventually turn over and try to run but then just crap out. This is only when the key stays turned and you give it gas. I am at the end of my rope. What do I need to look into to? So far new; fuel relay, fuel pump, pre pump, 25A fuse holder by battery, high pressure fuel line from filter to intake, 1/2 inch fuel line from sender to main pump, sender unit on top of tank. I cleaned all the fuse terminals, put electrical grease on them, and put all new fuses in. Battery is a little over a year old, fuel filter is a few months old, cap and cables just over a year, plugs a few months old.

What else could cause it to not turn over, except when you keep the key turned, but then it dies? I am sure I am missing another “regulator” or something like that. I am about ready to have it towed to a shop. Thank you for any advice you can give!