'82 Collector Edition Crossfire starts and dies.

Been so long since I was here, I still recognize a few names. My '82 crossfire is still my main drive. Since last post 6 years ago lots of improvements and still going strong; until today! Starts and dies, starts and dies. Got it to start and revved real good for awhile, then it dies. Crossfires are pumping good, just won't keep running. Please, any suggestions?

First off have you made any changes recently? The engine requires 3 things to run, fuel, air, and spark. Air is the easiest to check by just looking at the filter and making sure that it's not clogged. While I'm not familiar with the Crossfire system, I believe you can hook a fuel pressure gauge up to a Schrader port. There's a couple of ways to check for your spark. One would be to put a inductive pickup timing light and see if it triggers the light. Another is to put one of those spark checkers in series with a spark plug.

Low fuel pressure, or a large vacuum leak would be my first thoughts. Also possible the idle air control valve is stuck. Does the check engine light come on?

I am not familiar with the idle air valve, I will check that next.

My car has been running so good I was surprised when it would not start. I do not here the fuel pump but the few seconds it does run the fuel sprays really strong.

That's why you need to hook a fuel pressure gauge up to the system to make sure that the fuel pump is really strong enough when it has the restriction of the throttle bodies.

Could be the fuel pump, although I changed to a new aftermarket pump about 30k miles ago. I do not here it pump when I first turn on the key like I used to. It fires and dies instantly, almost like something is shutting down the pump.

I have made changes, but 30k to 40k miles ago. Besides new fuel pump and filter, rebuilt engine, better cam, worked the valves some. Installed serpentine belt system with all new appliances, i.e. ac comp, pump, alt. Have a new 3300cfm electric fan, absolutely no problems running hot.

That's why I think you need to get a fuel pressure gauge hooked up to it to tell what's going on with the fuel pump. You can pick one up at Harbor Freight for a decent price.

  The problem seemed so much like the computer was having problems, the fuel spray was very strong at start up, then just quit, time after time. I went through everything I could think of and finally got back to the fuel pump. I was going to pull it and replace it and I found a lot of corrosion on the connector. I cleaned it and that seemed to solve most of the problem. I started it this morning, after the third try it held and ran just fine, so I drove it to work my normal commute of about 50 miles round trip.