Checking over the system as I have not started it yet.     I have managed to get a few pops but no more.

I have fuel getting to the engine after several hours of work.   I managed to get at least 3 cups of water out of the tank by continuously flowing about 5 galls of gas through to the entry of the fuel pump and then discarding the water etc.    The gas now comes out clear but there is probably more rubbish in the bottom of the tank.       I have not yet bitten the bullet to drop the tank.    The amount of rust I have seen is minimal compared to the amount of what I assume to be water that settles at the bottom of my containers.

I fitted a pre-filter before the pump and added fresh fuel to the tank.   Hopefully this will enable me to get the tank reasonably clean. 
The fuel pump was pretty clogged and would not run but cleaning out on the entry side enabled it to run and flow fuel.     Fuel that flows is clean.

I have run the pump to pressurize the system.    I see no fuel on the return side of the pressure regulator however.    I think this means that I am not building enough pressure to cause it to relieve although I can feel a vibration on the regulator while the pump is running.

Am I correct in assuming that absence of fuel in the return indicates insufficient fuel pressure ??    I don't have a gauge on hand yet.

How close to the bottom of the tank is the fuel pick-up?

The next job I think is to remove the injectors and test them and to more accurately check the ignition timing.

Any other well known tricks to try?

Thanks Steve