New to me 1009 will not start

If you are doing a trans pull and overhaul anyway, might want to check out the 4L80E swap thread in the CUCV Helpful thread sticky.

I think my issue was getting it primed. I replaced most fuel components except sending unit.

Now troubleshooting reverse transmission issue. It will just barely move in reverse. But only sometimes. High revs won’t make it catch. No grinding at all. In forward gears it is long shifting but smooth. Just not always shifting up as it should. Will probably drop the transmission after trying some additives suggested in this thread.

Motor still hard starting each day. Requiring damp gas rag over intake to fire. Suspect my glow plug relay or glow plug wires aren’t functioning properly. They have current when the switch is pushed. But not sure they are actually glowing. Going to pull #1 and just hold it out to check if it heats up. Plugs are new so has to be a wire issue.