just got back after being out of state since 2016. here's a solution to the problem.
the trouble came back fall of 2016. changing the fuel filter seemed to correct it, but it was only a band aid. It shortly became almost impossible to start, but I was gone and soninlaw driving it just stopped driving it.
in Jan2018 started testing all over again. found bad air motor that lets hot air into air stream to help with throttle injection. Replaced it. tested pvc, egr, map temp sensor (both) throttle position sensor, oxygen sensor. and every thing else I could find except for the fuel pressure because it has no access port and steel lines that are almost impossible to get to.But I did test the relay, fuses and gas pump, all were operating. done restive checks on fuel pump wires and tested fuel regulator. everything I could except fuel pressure. After all I could see fuel being injected at the throttle body!
finally I found a port adapter that would fit inline under the truck. It was in a kit $150 at auto zone. they loaned the kit out. finally I see that the pressure was very low, around 3 psi.
Took off the bed and removed the pump, replaced it and retested everything. this was the problem all along.
the truck runs better than it has for years even though it ran well before. the engine doesn't idle high at stop signs any longer.
I found a pump that reached only 18 psi. on line and it works perfectly.
I could have saved a lot of frustration if I could have tested the pressure sooner, but their are no access ports on this tbi system and the lines are so difficult to even add the port adapter.
thanks everyone for you help with this ongoing problem.