HELP!-Fuel Filter Change Nightmare-E300TD

[SpeedRacer]

Decided it was time to change the fuel filters on both of my E300TD's. Read some posts about how to do it before I jumped in. Everyone made it sound easy, no problem.

Went ahead and changed both of the filters(can & screen), was a pretty easy. Filled the filter full of clean diesel prior to putting back on. So far so good. Cranked up after quite a few tries, but finally got going. Let idle for a while, all seemed well. Shut car off, and went and did the other one. Same thing, all appeared good so far. Went ahead after all was said and done, and decided to go for a drive in one of the cars. Got about 3000ft, and died. Damn.

Checked the filter, no fuel in the filter. Filled filter back up with fuel, cranked for a long while, got going again, drove back to house. Decided I was going to let run for a long while this time before I went anywhere. Turns out both cars will run until the fuel filter runs out of fuel, then the car dies. If you refill the filter, car will start and run again, until it runs out of fuel in the filter, then it dies. Did this about 15 times now, same results every time.

WTF is all I have to say. Both cars ran sweet prior to this filter change. Kind of kicking myself now for changing, but figured it could not hurt, yea right. Now have 2 dead cars, neither will run for more than about 3 minutes. Thought that maybe there is some kind of air buble in the fuel intake line, but can not find it. Even tried sticking air compressor hose in the fuel tank, and adding air pressure to push fuel towards filter, but that does not seem to help much. I am at a complete loss here.

Someone with some idea's please help.

Thanks,