Hard start and rough idle

My '96 Silverado w/ 184,000 miles usually has to be coaxed to start and it idles rough now. At first it was only on warm starts but now it doesn't want to start when cold, either. I replaced the plugs, plug wires, distributor cap and rotor since they were all original equipment and probably needed changing anyway, but that didn't fix the problem. I know I should change the fuel filter and that is next. I also read about the fuel pressure regulator in these forums but I don't know where it is located. This has been a great truck so I can't complain too loud. Any advice is appreciated.

fuel pressure regulator is located under the upper intake manifold, you should do a fuel pressure test(key on, engine off) to see if the pressure bleeds quickly after the fuel pump quits

fuel pressure regulator is located under the upper intake manifold, you should do a fuel pressure test(key on, engine off) to see if the pressure bleeds quickly after the fuel pump quits

With key on , engine off the pump with run for only 2 seconds, if you need longer time, there is a little red pigtail coming out of side of underhood fuse/relay center. This is your fuel pump test lead, just hot wire the pigtail and the pump will run contiuosly. Bleed down (after pump shuts off) should be minimal.But like he said the FPR is under the upper intake mounted to the right side of fuel metering body.

Well all you can do is start with the basic mechanical stuff like compression and spark and fuel pressure.then you go on to computer control stuff.

If you remove the air breather tube, taking a flashlight, open the throttle blade and look inside. If there is fuel or moisture in the floor of the plenumn, then you have a fuel leak, most likely from the fuel pressure regulator. Seen it several times at the dealership. Common problem. :2cents: