A quick update and note to self and possibly others... check fuel lines for kinks. DOH!
I finally added fuel to the tank and starting trying to vacuum fuel up to the new fuel filter. It just wasn't happening! I gave up the other day and decided to regroup. I talked with a friend who is a diesel tech and he said pressurize the tank and it will push up. Easier said than done by ones self. I finally read on another site about putting pressure through the return line at the injection pump. By applying pressure you can find any little leaks. First one was the Ironically at the handle of my valve, snugging up the nut for the seal quickly solved that. Back to adding pressure when I popped one of the small hoses at an injector. Knew something was off and started tracing all lines. It's always the last place you look... both the feed and return were kinked at the tank. That extra inch I put on those lines to help reinstall the tank... bit me. Had to lower the tank, get the lines off, cut the hoses, and reinstall. Triple checked... No kinks! Finally able to bleed fuel up to the injection pump and then cracked the lines on the injectors till they were wet. I tried starting. Ran briefly and stalled, but it started! I had solid fuel at the injection pump and finally went back to the filter. I hooked up the bleeder, and opened it... air, cranked till straight fuel came out. Started again, she was running, and finally settled into an idle. I got out to start check some things when my buddy points under the truck to the puddle... quick sniff diesel. Running off the bell housing... shut her down...drain pan and rags. Double check the line to the injection pump...dry. Valley...wet...now with a light...full of stuff also. Cleaned it all out and started one more time... valley filled in no time.
The good - It Lives! The bad - injection pump! I knew it was a calculated risk not to send it out but worth a shot! On the upside, bleeding will go faster next time!