97 4.0 starts then dies instantly

[fordswin14]

So I have 97 4.0 5speed and I had just bought it and it started to piss coolant out of the lower intake gasket, luckily i caught it right away. I got it trailered back to my house and bought gaskets, replaced them, put it all back together and all it did was start and go straight to 1000 rpm then die instantly. We thought the fuel lines might be backwards then realized they're different ends and only fit where they are supposed to go so its not that. We pulled the throttle position sensor and mass air flow sensor off of my other 96 4.0 5 speed ranger and neither of those changed anything. We tested those connectors and they're just fine. We bought a new IAC and that didn't change anything. Its now starting, goes down to like 600rpm then 400rpm not really idling but firing once at each and then just dies. We have no idea what to do now because it ran just fine before i replaced the gaskets. Any thoughts?

 

[RonD]

Welcome to the forum

Spark plug wires on the coil pack should look like this
3 4
2 6
1 5

The 5 6 4 side often gets mixed up, they need to be MATCHED to 1, 2 and 3 in that order

And I assume opening the throttle doesn't keep it running?
If so check the vacuum hose on Fuel pressure regulator, see if there is gasoline inside it, flooding engine

Maybe there is too much air
Take air tube off upper intake, use gloved hand over intake to block most of the air flow IN
Start engine
See if engine stays running, if so the intakes are not sealed, new gaskets didn't seal somewhere