1998 silverado starting problems

I have a 1998 silverado 1500 series 350 vortec 5.7 liter.\

I just put a new fuel pump and it works fine, but now when the engine is cold it doesn't want to start until I put the accellerator to the floor and choke it, then it coughs almost stalling till it gets going. one its warmed up, it runs fine starts fine as long as I keep it warm or start it up every
two hours. I'm loosing sleep from waking up at 2 am and 4 am to keep it warm or breaking down completely, ha ha. I have 103,000 on it 53,000
of my own miles, I bought it used. I never put a distributor
cap or wires yet, do you think thats it? or is it the catalitic converter.
I don't have much money to replace all my guesses.
The air filter is fine also. Anybody having similar issues?

any suggestions welcome.
Thanks

What is your fuel pressure ? Maybe you got a bad pump. With 103000 you are about due for plugs wires cap and rotor. Don't forget the coil wire. That one will come back and bite you.

Having to put the pedal to the floor is a sure sign of flooding. If it is puffing a little smoke when it finally starts. I would say it is getting to much gas... leaking fuel press. regulator or sticking injector (poppet) Hope that gets you on track.
See above post.. check fuel press.

What is your fuel pressure ? Maybe you got a bad pump. With 103000 you are about due for plugs wires cap and rotor. Don't forget the coil wire. That one will come back and bite you.

Thanks Zirb, I don't have a fuel pressure checker, it runs great whens its
warmed up. I know it's overdue though but I think the fuel pressure
might be the problem.
Heres the confession: I bought the pump at pep boys? cause when
I called chevy the guy said he needs my last 4 vin numbers there are
three pumps for that year! and 400.00 - 600.00 price!
so I bought the 279.00 pump.

It worked great for a week now this stuff started up.

Having to put the pedal to the floor is a sure sign of flooding. If it is puffing a little smoke when it finally starts. I would say it is getting to much gas... leaking fuel press. regulator or sticking injector (poppet) Hope that gets you on track.
See above post.. check fuel press.

Thanks Riche, leaking fuel pressure humm, that might be, I'll check it again. I'm not sure what a poppet is other than maybe a manufacture?
I also thought maybe the fuel filter.

HI there, looks like we have the same truck, my truck wont start. I changed the f/f and the switch and am looking to check out the fuel pump this weekend.
I am just wondering what the fuel pump cost you and where did you get it?
How big of a job is dropping the tank and changing the fuel pump?
I don't have any exotic tools. Is everything pretty straight forward. Anything problem you had or recommend doing anything a certain way?
Good luck on your problem. Rick

Hey mcconaughy
You got spark? Check your fuel pressure. 58-65 lbs. Its alot easier than changing out parts. Alot cheaper too.

It sounds alot like typical fuel pressure regulator leak. Hook up a pressure gauge to the test port; turn the key on to build pressure, then turn the key off and see if pressure holds. If it doesn't repeat but pinch off the supply line after you have full pressure and see if it drops. If it does than the leak is in the fuel pressure regulator and it is probably leaking where they always do right into the intake thus no pressure at startup. Generaly they won't start up cold well or when sitting for a half an hour or so. If it doesn't drop it remains that the 279.00 fuel pump is the problem( probably the other choice though). Also if the pressure regulator is leaking fuel into the intake you end up with two problems 1) hard starts due to all the pressure leaking into the intake causing flooding and 2) Raw fuel potencially getting by the rings and into the oil. And that can be very bad. If you can't check this on your own don't let it go to long.