trouble starting, maybe snorkel problem

[Boggin]

so yesterday i tried to start my rig, and she wouldnt go so i was thinking maybe i got some water/mud in the stock air filter, so i grabbed on to it and ripped it out, and put the cold air filter on it that was on the 88 ranger. so sure enough she started right up perfect.
and today i figured screw this. and i chopped a hole in the hood and stuck the filter up through. and sure enough hard to start again. so i went to town and got a can of gas and came back and threw it in her, same problem so i busted out the quick start, and for those of you who dont know this is quick start:

it makes anything go almost every time.

so sure enough she fired up, but she was still a bit iffy like when i pressed the gas she would die out a bit, but after i started using her she wasnt as bad.
so is it possible she might be getting too much air?
i really dont want to have to be boosting my truck from my dads f150 for a half hour trying to get my truck to start.

i will post a pic of the snorkel shortly, just to show you how the setup is

 

[Psychopete]

The only way that it can get "too much air" is if you have a vacuum leak. Sounds like you might possibly have a fuel problem since it's starting on starting fluid, check your fuel pressure when it's acting up. I know you've messed with both, so this guess is as good as any.

Pete

 

[BlackBII]

I vote a fuel issue as well, given that it started up with starting fluid.

 

[feellnfroggy]

Did you only switch the filter when diagnosing or did you switch the entire assembly, It could be a mass air thing. Common with our fords, form the ranger to the probe.

 

[BlackBII]

2.9 = No MAF. (in most cases)

 

[Boggin]

 

[Psychopete]

This might not be related to the problem, but what did you end up doing with the vacuum lines that ran to the air box?

Pete

 

[Boggin]

they are just sitting there, i plugged them off. thats how the ranger was for a year and a half