hard to start beginning of day

1998 chevrolet truck hard to start first time, no problem rest of day unless it sits more than about 6 hours? also if i short stroke the ignition it may not start for days

sounds like its loosing fuel pressure as it sits,next time try to prime it before you start it ,turn key on and off 5 or 6 times with out cranking it over,

I agree, check fuel pressure. It should go up to about 60psi Key on, engine off, and remain at 60 for a while. If it drops off immediatly, you have a leak.

You forgot to tell us what motor you have, but I suspect if its a 305 or 350 that you have a leaky fuel pressure regulator.

sorry. 5.7 . fuel pressure dropped from 62 to 57 in about five minutes. no vissible leaks. where exactly is the regulator?

It is under the plenum, and a bee itch to replace. Although if it dropped to 57 and held at 57, it might be ok.

Mine was starting hard, would crank for 5 seconds before it would turn, but once started would run fine. Then one day comeing home from work it started missfiring at idle bad. Got home, parked, next day fuel pressure pumped up, but dropped off to 0 before I had a chance to come look at the guage after turning the key on.

Turned out the regulator under the plenum was bad dumping all 60psi of fuel into the port runner for cyl#3 causing the miss at idle. Replacement of the fuel pressure regulator fixed the issue.