[Trio3b]

1997 C1500 5.0L

Hard start problem has been getting gradually worse over the course of 6 months. Have to throw starter fluid and then she fires, especially when cold. After initial morning run, truck starts all day no problem.
About 2 months ago, crank but no start. Fuel problem right? So ran my starter fluid routine...NOTHING.
1. Fuel pressure a little on the low side of spec
2. Checked ignition with tester on one of the wires. Weak and intermittent, so checked coil wire... It disintegrated in my hands and.nothing on the tester. So Ran tester directly on coil ...SPARK! So bad coil wire right?
3. Spark tester on New coil wire..spark!
4. Spark tester again on a plug wire....spark!
5. Starter fluid direct into throttle body..NOTHING..not even a cough.

I've never had an internal combustion engine (car lawnmower chainsaw) NOT briefly fire as long as there's spark.
Even if there was no fuel, the motor should catch briefly.
If ANY part of ignition not working (cranksensor, IM, coil, dist cap, bad grnd) I would think there would be no spark.
If timing chain problem it would not be gradual. This truck ran smooth and powerful after the initial morning dose of starter fluid and would fire right up and run strong the rest of the day.

As long as mechanical timing and valves opening closing properly shouldn't the spark fire the starter fluid?

Or spark is too weak or completely out of time. Spark is not big fat and blue but is very noticeable.

Any ideas appreciated.