Chevrolet Repair: Ignition/Fuel delivery 1989 chevy z71 4x4 1/2 ton, chevy z71, fuel gauge

Question
It started when driving the car was hesitating and backfiring, the check engine light would come on for a minute then it would go off and everything would return to normal.  After a couple times it died and would not start.  I did some trouble shooting and had no spark. Checked the coil, no spark there either.  So I pulled the cap off to see what was going on and the guts fell out in my hand. Problem solved (I thought) I installed a new distributor and coil. The thing fired right up and after a few minutes of idling started sputtering and backfiring again. I noticed that when it was acting up the fuel gauge would start bouncing and when it died the fuel gauge would peg on full. (It has 1/4 tank in it)  I would turn the key off then when I turned it back on the fuel gauge returned to 1/4 and it would start. Then it did it again only the fuel gauge is staying on full and it will not start.  I checked and there is plenty of spark but now there is no fuel coming out of the injectors. It got dark on me so I was unable to pull the fuel line to see if the pump was coming on.  Ive never seen this kind on behavior before and was wondering if you might have some insight.  Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Hope your holidays are wonderful
Bebe


Answer
Hi Bebe... well check the fuel pump, when gas gauge spikes to full is because it has lost it's ground...try the wires on top of the tank, also check that fuel pump is not shorting to ground....if it is replace the pump.   hope this helps...Merry Christmas