I found my fuel issue!
a portion of the fuel line going to the pump (not stock, it's from a 325 i) had twisted, then dry rotted. the twisted section, had a hole about 3mm in diameter. i blew through it, and it felt like blowing through a stirring straw!!
as soon as i cut that section out (the rest of the line was perfectly fine) and fired the car up, i could go WOT no problem.
now i just need to charge my battery, it's dead. after i get that taken care of, i think i need to re adjust the TPS, and adjust the timing, along with cleaning some conections here and there.
i've got bad memory. when i first tried to start it, it wouldn't start. i was thinking wtf, the pump is working.....2 seconds later, i run to the back and pull the clamp i had on the fuel line to keep it from leaking on me, and it fired up.
it was also overheating, but i found it was because a combination of things
the thermostat looked like crap
and the gasket, HAH, it was rotted away
the lower rad hose was bad, and was collapsing
and a the hoses going to the heater housing/thermal vacuum valve were dry rotted.
I'm just waiting on a couple little parts to come in the mail on monday/tues and it should run like a champ!