SUCCESS! After a lot of tinkering I found two main problems. The air filter was full of water. The 'filtered air' side was dry and so was the MAF but the air filter was soaked. So I though the thing died due to lack of air.

And maybe it did. But it still would not start. It tried to, but would not catch.

Eventually I found a cracked distributor. I was rather lucky in that it was the first thing I checked since back in the 50s water in the distributor was a problem after a heavy rain. I always carried a shop towel to wipe out the inside of the cap. I finally quit doing this in the early 70s.

This crack was not in the cap. It was in the body of the distributor.

And.... When I pulled the distributor the oil on the bottom gear was brown. Uh, oh.. Water in the oil. But I checked the oil and nope, it was just in that one spot. I guess it was left over from the plunge.

The beast in question is a Chevy Express van from the 90s. Right at 300,000 on it with a 5.0.

So far I have replaced the air filter and the distributor. Next up is an oil change. I also replaced the Schrader valve in the gas line because it was leaking. So air filter at $15, Ebay distributor (new) $58 and $4 for the Schrader valve and the tool to pull it.

And it fired right off. I still need to set the timing but it's dark here and at night all sorts of creatures come out. The bugs are the worst but at least they leave something for the mountain lions.

I have this thing in the barn since my garage stall is hogged up with shop and the driveway is hogged up with an old 111.