Well it looks like the problem was the AFM. After swapping with a friend (1989 4 runner), the motor fired up and kept running!
I've never had one apart, but had a suspicion about mine when I manually activated the air vane inside and only saw it move 1/4". After taking it apart, I noticed the arm was leaving contact #1 and jamming on #2....so the fuel pump contacts were not closing. I just had to bend the arm and contacts back into position, and now the vane moves like it should, and the fuel pump is triggered properly!
Thanks to everyone who was part of this thread...sure glad I stumbled onto this site.