$900, what a find!

I suspect your fuel pressure regulator is at fault, but you are wrong about the vacuum line. The FPR has moved to the frame under the dash and has "2" vacuum lines! Those fuel lines that come up over the engine by the Tbelt cover, one of those is a fuel line, the other is a vacuum line and goes to the front of the manifold - from the FPR. The other FPR vacuum line goes toward the driver's side. My 1998 had a leaky vacuum line at the end of the hard FPR line to the manifold - short but full of cracks.

With multiple misfires, I would repl the rotor and cap as soon as possible. The spark plug wires are probably original, the date is stamped on each wire, but they do last a long time. Check the spark plugs, you want copper core gapped to .028 in.

If you have an old tire pressure gauge - the pencile type, use it to check the pressure at the end of the fuel rail. That is indeed a schrader valve. You should find the pressure just fine after starting the engine, about 38-40psi.

The ECT sensor can be checked, just do not have it unplugged when the ignition is on :>)
68F = 2800 ohms
104F = 1200 ohms
176F = 300 ohms
212F = 150 ohms


You will want to consider the following, a new boost controller from IPD which comes with 3 vacuum lines. Clean the PTC valve in the intake line before the turbo - it is a bear but needed. A new air filter and cabin filter.

EDIT:
With a cold engine, try turning the key to posII several times and listen for the fuel pump. It is possible that the backflow preventer is failing and fuel draining back into the tank. Several posIIs followed by a quick start will diagnose the back flow.
Fuel pressure should drop to 20psi after engine stop within a few seconds and to about zero after a few minutes.

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My name is Klaus and I am a V ♂ lv ♂ holic