coughing caddi

my 85 fleetwood braugham with the 4.1 v8 is acting strange when i start it. it takes like 30 seconds for it to actually start after repeated pumping of the gas and when it does start the car sounds like its trying to cut back off. and when i press the gas its kind of gasps like the gas isnt doing anything. ive been told its the fuel pump but i dont want to spend the money if thats not the problem. if anybody has any ideas as to what it may be let me know plz