Fuel gauge reads empty, fuel light flashing.. already disconnected battery for a day.

You will need to test a number of things, the fuel gauge is part of a rather simple circuit.

Battery -> gauge -> tank sensor -> chassis ground to battery

If the circuit is broken at any of the steps, your gauge will read "empty". If the tank sensor is bad, it could read empty, or if the float in the tank has sunk, it will read empty.

I start at the gauge with a "test light" that glows when it sees battery voltage. Get a light at the connection to the gauge? Good. find the sensor connection, usually on top of the tank, accessible in the trunk. Probe with test light. Light on? Good. Connect wire to ground, gauge should read "full". If all that is as I said, then the tank sensor is bad. If you don't read battery at any step, you know where the problem is.

You have two pumps,I guess you know that ,if you already did one. Did you check fuel pressure at the rail and check out the electronic pressure regulator? What codes are coming up and do they stay set?

chevy and gmc trucks have an on going problem with this,turn the key on,and get a rubber mallot or a hammer and hit the bottom of the fuel tank a couple of times,this will unstick something in the fuel pump/sending unit.