98 Venture running rough, and rich

I reciently picked up a 98 venture that is barely running, the fuel filler neck was rusted off, and aparently this was around the same time the van started running bad. I replaced the filler neck and put a fresh tank of fuel, and for luck I replaced the fuel filter. I started it up and it didnt want to keep running, unless I held the accelerator a bit. I decided to take it for a drive, and the problem seems to be getting worse if anything. There is a strong smell of gas coming from the exhaust, and around mid rpm's it hesitates, almost like it is not getting fuel, but like I said it seems to be running very rich. I wont be able to get the codes read for a couple weeks, the engine light is flashing. Just thought I would get some ideas before I get a chance to work on it.

My van just did something similar. It replaced the fuel pressure regulator and now it runs ok.

The FPR is located on top of the engine around the acceleration cables. It is small and has a bell-shaped housing on top of it. Also a vacuum line plugs into the top of it.

Take off the vacuum line and crank the engine over (but don't start it). If gas shoots out the top of hte FPR then replace. There is a diaphragm in the FPR that controls the fuel flow. If the diaphragm is bad gas willl come out of top of the FPR.

By the way, as a result of this problem I also had about a pint of gas inside my air filter housing.