Should have wrote less.
Just saved me from writing it, and you said it better.If we are talking about a mechanical fuel pump. I have had this problem before.
First step is to disconnect fuel line from input of fuel filter.
Insert the end of the hose into a temporary approved fuel container
Crank engine.
Check if fuel transferred into container.
If so, you need to check for problems with filter/carb.
If not, disconnect hose from fuel tank to fuel pump.
Install hose of proper size and length to run from a temporary can of gas to the input side of fuel pump.
Crank motor.
If fuel didn't transfer then your pump is bad.
If adequate fuel transferred into the original temporary fuel container your fuel pump is at least good enough to start your engine. The problem is between the tank and the fuel pump.
Could be clogged in-tank filter. Pickup in tank with hole above fuel level sucking air. Clogged fuel line. Or what mine turned out to be... the rubber fuel line between the steel lines on the frame at the tank and the tank pickup were rotten so the fuel pump was sucking air ahead of the tank.
Of course this is assuming your fuel gauge works, and you actually have fuel in the tank.
I am having the same problem, Was running then a couple days later went to start it and all it did was crank over, I have fuel ,pulled the filter from carb to make sure, and I have fuel getting to the carb and it is working norm with acceleration , I hadn't done anything to it. But I did check for spark, and no spark. I have power going to coil. Since my ohm meter found somewhere else to go I could not do a ohm check. so i replaced the coil and i am getting the same thing, no spark. At the coil or spark plugs. I did run a wire from the positive side of the battery to the + side of the coil and tried to turn it over to check if it was the ignition switch on the column, I also did a tapping on the ignition module to see if it would kick . But noting .. yes I may sound like i have no clue. I got the jeep from my cousin that passed away , and he had someone not knowing much . about it imo. because they unhooked the pulse air air cleaner was not on it. they had a small air cleaner on it I do have the original air cleaner., and changed a lot of the vacuums in other words someone was taking him for a ride while he was sick :/ When he passed i had to go get it. It was running, but now this is new problem to me. :/ and honestly my first pulse air , / Jeep I ever owned. I do have a chiltons manual , But looking for some kind of insight here. It seems to be a mess under the hood with vac. plugged off and , going different places. according to the vac. diagrams. It is a original California jeep. I would Like to get it back to a at least like it supposed to be. Uggg . Signed frustrated and discouraged
My buddy had the same problem with his '83. It was worse after a fill up because it would pull a vacuum quicker.(less air in tank)