when you cranking your holding the throttle wide oepn right? with all that fuel u need more air. if it runs WOT check the IAC passages and pintle movement

perhaps when the rail is on you are overfueling and when you had it off the residual was just enough to run.

make sure the fuel return line to the tank isnt obstructed or pinched?
is the pump and pressure regulator in your neon the one from the stratus? or is it the original neon equipment?

is this the neons PCM or the stratuses?

Check exhaust restrictions? dunno
Check PCV operation? dunno
proper installation of engine drive sprockets? you say yes
Fuel contamination? quite possible

 

yeah wants to start more when i hold open fuel contamination is gone ive cranked till i was blue in the face (its 30 degrees outside) pcm is out of dohc 2.0 i didnt change it but i have tried other computers fpr is outa a 2002 dodge neon fuel pump and tank out of 99 dode neon pump is new will check Iac

there is no fuel return line???? i didnt see that in the 2.4 swap however the car ran once without it