start wont run

1997 2500 Chev 2wd 5.7 Vortec bought 2 years ago 225k now 245k

I'm low on gas (first time this low, usually 1/4 and above) I stop to get 10gl at a station never been to before. After @ 12miles truck starts backfiring spitting popping quickly getting worse. It will start and idle fine but not under load.

At home I pull fuel filter and it is clear on blow through. Fuel captured in empty and dry water bottle is clean, fuel in filter dirty, bought new filter. No difference.

Take it to shop tell my story how I think I might have bad fuel, they ran scan codes, on receipt are:[p0135 02 sensor heater circuit b2s1] [p1351 ignition coil 1&4 control circuit hgh voltage]

Scope Test

Found all cylinder dropping out
Found cyl #6 spark plug wire against exhaust manifold

The shop said I needed new plugs and wires

I replace plugs (#6 wire was not laying on manifold and there are no marks to indicate so) and now truck will not run it starts but then dies starving for fuel, new plugs are covered in soot. So I pull a plug out to check spark and it is firing good odd thing now is that the truck stays running I put plug back in and it will not run.

Measured fuel pressure at 60psi ko eoff dropped 55 and built back to 58 and holding. e/on (spark plug out) 55-60psi. and thats where I'm at.

If I could get it running I would take it to another shop

Come on guys,Has no one ever heard of a truck not running because you put all 8 spark plugs in?:) Wire on or off it doesn't matter.

And to introduce myself: Use to have a pretty good idea how things work.
Started working on this truck and have learned to throw common since out the window.

[I know, here I go taking over a thread]

But I just have to ask.Q: Dude, are you trying to start the truck while the air breather is off? A: Why yes I am. Damn you can't run 'em like that anymore.

!@#$%^ &* I have kept away from this electronic/computer stuff. A guy needs to learn sometime.

So its fixed?

I'm not sure if you got the truck running again, but several years ago I had a friend come to me with a car that would'nt move out of it's way. they had the trans replaced just prior thinking it was bad. After a week the car got worse still no power so they gave me the car.
This was a ford and it would only run with 1 or 2 plugs out......that led me to believe that there was no place for the exhaust to escape except through the open plug holes. I disconnected the exhaust at the manifolds and the car came to life.
The catylst convertor was plugged solid. I replaced the cat and returned the car to the owner and the car ran great for several more years!

Just an Idea to try.

Yea, its running.

My first thought was cats, as well, but its possible they're gutted. Had a new friend bring his scanner over. Snap, he noticed an odd reading for the intake manifold. We opened the hood and he said,"Dude, you're not trying to run it like this are you? And I said,"~!@#$%^&*() why yes I am."