Just hook the fuel pressure gauge up and look at the fuel pressure. At idle, with the vacuum compensation line disconnected, you should see 43.5psi. GM accepts 41-47psi as being in spec. Then reconnect the vacuum compensation line. Fuel pressure should drop 6-8psi with a stock cam, less than that with a wilder cam.
Then tape the fuel pressure gauge to the windshield, and take it out on the road, run it up to max rpm/max load, and the fuel pressure should hold within 2psi of the "no vacuum" reading.
While you've got the vacuum line off, check the line for wet fuel or heavy fuel smell. That would indicate a leaking diaphragm in the regulator.
Finally, with the engine off, prime the pump and see how long it takes for the pressure to bleed off. If it does bleed off quickly, you are stuck with 3 possibilities, two of which are easy to rule out. The vacuum line check would rule out a faulty fuel pressure regulator. Pulling the rails up with the system pressurized, checking for drips, would rule out pressure loss due to a leaking injector. That would leave you with a faulty check valve in the pump, which would make it hard to start, but wouldn't cause it to run rich.
By "fuel smell from the car" do you mean the exhaust smells rich, or something else?
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Fred
1994 Formula - 381ci / 300-shot N2O / TH400 / Gear Vendor OD / Strange 12-bolt 4.11 - 11.5@117 on straight motor
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