UPDATE:
AMAZINGLY STUPID AND LUCKY
so, I'm pretty sure this is what it was, and I can't believe it worked at all before, and that I figured it out.
I was just checking through the whole thing, wondering if my fuel pump was shot or what, and in taking off the injector from the brass fuel line, I noticed the fuel running out continuously, when the engine wasn't on. Now, I have the fuel tank a bit higher than standard mount, but that's not normal.
so I go further down, taking out the brass fuel line and then the whatsit brass knob above the pump. As I carry the knob over to my tool bench, I see that there's NO SPRING INSIDE! I spend 15 minutes on my knees in the dirt looking for where I might have dropped it, no luck. Could it be I am remembering wrong and there is no spring?? I check to see if I have any replacements in my supply. nope. then, as I'm standing there scratching my head, I notice - half buried in the gravel around the base of my mount - a bit of spring. I put it back in, put everything together, and it runs like a charm.
AND, as a bonus, after all the struggles with a gift alternator (cutting off the pulley :
https://listerengine.com/smf/index.php?topic=9713.msg111256#msg111256 ) and getting a 4" pulley onto it - it runs a perfect 110ac out. I'm back in business baby!
thanks again for all the help.