I had a similar problem that drove me nuts.
Turned out to be fuel contamination. My IDI sat for two years and algae started growing throughout the fuel system, including the lines and injection pump. I cleaned everything out, got it running, quit for the night and the next day could not get fuel out the IP or injectors. It turned out that this algae was like superglue and even tiny trace amounts would glue parts together inside the IP as well as the injectors when left overnight.
I discovered it by accident when cleaning out the entire fuel system for the second time. While handling the IP, I pressed my fingers together and they stuck. I had to use a blade to pry them apart. The injectors that I had working the day before were also glued shut. I tried all kinds of solvents to dissolve it, including MEK, which is very nasty stuff. None worked. What did work was a 50/50 mixture of DieselKleen and diesel fuel. I cleaned out the fuel components again, and mixed up a 5 gal bucket and used a cheapo electric pump to feed it to the IP.
With good batts and good glowplugs, it fired right up. I let the engine idle for a few hours on the 50/50 mixture, dropped the fuel tank and scrubbed it out with dieselkleen. Filled the tank with a 25/75 mix of Kleen/diesel and never had another fuel problem.
Be aware that 100% dieselkleen is so strong it will melt the plastic fuel bowl inside the fuel tank.
Don’t sweat this truck. you can turn it into a reliable vehicle that will last for years.
And if you need an IP, I'll be putting one on ebay shortly. A DieselLogic rebuild still in the box.
