2 part question?
1.
Here is what I did. Replaced fuel filter as normal. Consulted my Chilton's manual which told me to not fill the filter with fuel, I found that a little odd, but did what it said. No fuel in filter. Try to crank it, she revs to the moon for 2 seconds then dies. Try to crank to no avail.

Take filter off this time to fill it, but see it has fuel in it. Dump it out, completely refuel it-- no luck.

WD 40 in the intake, not even a cough. Now batteries ran down. Do I need to bleed the injectors like I would if she ran out of fuel?

2. This morning she cranked as usual then after 15 seconds died. First time ever. I cranked and cranked until she fired. That is what put me on the fuel filter idea. Drive it all day fine. Could this be a sign of the pump going bad and fuel bleeding back overnight?

Obviously first question most important as she is DOA. Thanks gents.

 

Well, first, cuss the idiots at Chilton's for putting it backwards, you should ALWAYS fill it as best you can. Even that isn't entirely enough, you still need to bleed the filter out. The way to do that is unfortunately more cranking, which is hard on the starter, limit it to 20 seconds at a time as you can. WHile having someone crank it, or doing it yourself at the solenoid, hold the schrader valve open until fuel comes out. Then, since it is this dry, you would be best served to go ahead and bleed the injector lines as well. The way to do that is simply crack the retaining nuts loose, and make sure the line is loose, then more cranking until the fuel comes out there, then it should be more willing to fire. It will likely run rough for a little bit, but it will come out of it once the air is purged completely.
Another thing to do also is look at the filter housing... There will be the line in from the pump, the line out to the injection pump, and the possibly a rubber line from the filter housing to the injectors. If so, that line needs to be removed and plugged. The reason for this is that there is a check valve inside the fitting it is hooked up to, which tends to fail, letting the fuel drain back into the tank, and emptying the filter a bit, and then the injector pump gets air in it, and no more run without a lot of cranking.

 

All the oring/seal were in place and lubricated, filter was hand tight + 1/2 turn min. Water drain was closed on the filter base.

Always use a fuel additive to fill the filter and use the outside small holes Never The Big one. Use the Schrader valve to purge air from the filter before start (cranking), unless as you did "introduce air into the IP", usually the engine will start without priming lines after a filter change. Place your foot to the floor and crank it 15 seconds max with 2-3 minute cool down (key off). Attempt new start...

 

Ok, got her running after bleeding the injectors. Small leak out of plastic housing that sits on top of filter housing. Black and about the size of a nickel. what is it? replaceable? thanks.