1993 ranger has issues

1993 4L V6 2wd manual trans. it starts then dies 2-3 times before it will actually start and run hot or cold. giving it gas when tring to start has no effect. it does seem to run better when i disconect the air inlet from the throttle body like the tube is blocked but it isn't. i smell gas while driving but it's not from the exhaust pipe, when driving it acts like it's running out of gas. if i let up on the throttle and reapply it will run fine again for exactly 2 seconds then it's back to sputtering, i have a ses light on and off at no specific time but there are no codes. sometimes when running badly i hear a spark knock. replaced the fuel filter and pump, mass air flow sensor, tps, air filter, cleaned out the idle air control, the plugs and wires are less than a year old. a guy at work thinks the ecu is bad. I'm thinking O2 sensors or coolant temp sensor. any thoughts?
on a side note my fuel gauge reads between E and 1/4 tank even when full, i"ll take ideas on that too. fuel pump came with a new sending unit and still no change.

Hmmmm. Looks like this thing is going to nickel/dime you to death. Try a Diagnostic Check. It may be worth the ninety bucks or so. That should pinpint the problem.

Could your exhaust be partially blocked causing lots of back pressure or possibly a bad ground on the fuel pump. You've already tried every thing I would have thought to do These two suggestions are a shot in the dark but either one could possibly be the problem from your description good luck

Try spraying ether or carb cleaner around the intake gaskets, especially around the plenum, and see if the rpms change.