In an effort to not waste a day full of free time, albeit a shitty cold snowy day, I have made some plans. My fuel pressure regulator won't get here until tomorrow (of course), so I'm dead in the water on that front. I dug out the fuel pump I ordered back when I rebuilt the engine which I know is too small. Carter pump, P/N P72165. My calipers show me my mistake - this pump has an outside diameter of 1.5", whereas the factory pump is about 2". The carter pump did come with a little rubber condom which makes it slightly fatter, but still not 2". My Google-Fu tells me that this pump will provide adequate flow for the car at the correct pressure, all I need to do is make it fit. I'm optimistic that a trip to the hardware store will provide me with something that'll make this fat enough to mount into the tank securely. Very likely a fatter rubber condom.
I also plan on picking up 4 more gallons of fresh gas for the car. If the Capri has taught me anything, it's to take Rocketman's advice. I haven't checked if there's an easy drain point on the tank, but I guess I could push the old gas out the line to drain it. I really don't -want- to waste about $20 of gas, but whatever. Maybe I'll stick it in my Altima.
Hopefully one of those two things will fix my mystery fuel issue. I don't want to heat cycle the fresh engine with this problem, because I have no idea if it is running lean. It almost has to be though, since it'll stall out after a few seconds without opening the throttle up. I definitely don't want to run it lean. Once I can get this issue resolved though, I think it'll be ready to drive. I've managed to pull it in and out of the garage without too much drama.
Oh, I also need to figure out one more exhaust coupler for my janky catalytic converter delete. I have a flex pipe in place of the factory Cat now, and it's solidly attached to the downpipe. I'm just having issues getting it attached on the muffler end. I do have a tail-pipe expander and clamps, I just need to right sized coupler. More excuses to go to the hardware store! The honeycomb/catalyst in my factory Cat was falling away in chunks, so I'm really not all that fussed about chopping it off. I do need to have a qualified individual put together an actual exhaust soon....this is all just temporary. I can't have an open downpipe where I live.