1997 Chevy Cheyenne hard to start - sputters

Hey. Thanks for the reply. Your comments seem to be directed at fuel issues.

I am trying to remember details of discussion with the mechanic a few weeks ago, but I believe he said the fuel pressure was about 65 psi at startup, and at some point dropped to 52 psi, then back up to over 60 when running. I hope this makes sense. We had no discussion at all about fuel pressure when return line pinched, or after engine was stopped. I will get this all re-checked!. As well as voltage drop test at fuel pump.

I have a new fuel filter on the front seat of my truck (no good there, I know.) So I will try to get this on myself in the next day or two.

At what point might you think that the problem could be injectors leaking or sticking? I know these 96-03 Vortec engines have problematic poppet valves in the injector nozzle? I am bracing myself for this possible diagnosis>

And thanks again. I really appreciate this feedback

Again. Thanks very much for confirmation of required fuel pressure. Very difficult to start this morning again and I left the truck at my mechanic on the way to work. Asking him to check fuel pump, fuel pressure, etc. He said he would check a few other things as well and get back to me.

I have considered having the SCPI to MFI conversion kit installed to get rid of the poppet valve nozzles. But it is an expensive item and I would rather be sure that nothing else is wrong before I get the conversion done. Parts (in general) are far more expensive here in Canada as there is very little competition --- the complete scpi/mfi conversion kit with gasket for the v8 engine is about $350USD on gmpartsdirect. Com. (They won't ship to canada) and a local gm dealer here wants $900C (incl taxes) for the spider assembly without the gasket, and an independent parts shop here wants $600C, without the gasket. Also I have not even found a parts dealer or mechanic who knows what this conversion kit is until I explain it to them. So it could cost me a $1,000 parts&labour. I am willing to get it done, but I want to be sure that there is no other major fault. I know the conversion kit comes with its own new fuel pressure regulator. So if it is the faulty regulator on my truck I may just go for the conversion right away.

I got the truck in yesterday to the mechanic shop and asked for another fuel system check. The diagnosis at the end of the day (from the same tech that worked on it 3 weeks ago) was. Rapidly fading fuel pump. So I left it there overnight and will pick it up later today. With a new fuel pump in it. Thanks for the information on the mfi conversion kit. I checked this out on ebay and actually at the moment the price is $280USD + $35USD shipping to Canada by UPS + duty, brokerage, tax when it gets here. I am still considering this injector conversion but want to look at issues one at a time. And decide whether to keep the truck for the long term.

Thanks again, I'll send another update