Car Won't Start
 

Have made some progress on my 87 FC (sat for four years)... new sparks and plugs... successfully checked for spark on all of 'em... lubed up both rotor housings squirting AT fluid into leading and trailing spark holes... removed lots of acorns from the intake.. new battery.. gas.. oil change... etc etc..
I am able to get the engine to run for about 3 seconds while having a friend squirt starter fluid in the intake (have only done this once).. which after doing so blue smoke came out of the left exhaust for almost a minute (slowly for the last 40 seconds or so)...
I've tried the de-flooding technique about 5 times by removing the innermost engine 30A fuse and turning the ignition for 10-15 seconds.. when I do this I get the strongest smell of gas...
What should I try next?

Compression check. If you dont have a tester you can remove plugs and listen for it. If it doesnt sound the same(3 distinct whoosh sounds) on each rotor then you will have to rebuild. If compression is okay then ensure that you have fuel and air. Being that it runs, you can assume that you have spark. You have cleaned your air intake so I assume you have air. I'm going to bet you need to rebuild, but if you are lucky (i'm hoping for you) it's only a fuel concern or electrical.
the forum has many posts on this. Please search. You can PM me for advice but not before you check the basics.
best of luck

Thanks for the response! Went out and recorded these from both front and rear housings separately (making sure the one not being tested had both sparks inserted all the way)... I think it sounds good but I am far from an expert!

Update: Using a voltmeter I seem to be getting close to 12 volts through the rear wire harness that connects to the fuel pump with the key turned to on.. I realize now also that I never get a reading on the fuel level sender... is it possible both the sender and fuel pump need to be replaced at the same time? To me it'd make more sense that there's an electrical issue but I'm not sure..
Thanks,
Parker

Everything is possible. This car hasn't ran in years. Do you know it's history? You can run it with starter fluid forcefully. Seems like a fuel delivery concern. Anything from bad pump, circuit including fuses pumps and wiring or clogged injectors. The videos sound good but i'm also very hard on hearing(mostly selective if you ask my s.o) keep working on it and searching the forum. Once you think you figured it out and understand it (I mean really understand what you are testing and why you are testing it) then proceed with repairs. Again feel free to PM me buy I'm more than likely just going to send you a link from the forum.

Also how is your battery condition. Close to 12 low. It should be same as the battery. I'm assuming it's low from cracking and not starting. There is a modification you can do to improve on the wiring.

and here you are
https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/why-everyone-should-rewire-their-fuel-pump-847009/

your pulses sound good

you said it sat for four years, did you drain/clean the tank? If not, your injectors are probably full of crud and seized up. If you can continually get it to run on ether, but not on its own, definitely a fuel issue