[Rich Biebel]

My '96 GMC 454 had a somewhat similar series of problems a few years ago. Engine was stunbling and shutting off and wouldn't start and other times would run fine. I had it towed in one morning, changed the fuel filter and it was good for a few days. Engine quit again a few days later and I could restart it and go a few blocks...luckily I was near work. Pulled the fuel tank and changed the pump but bought a parts store model and had to swap some parts from the OEM unit to the parts store model. Ran ok for a day or two....than same deal. Towed in again! Put a fuel pressure gauge on it and drove it around......it was losing fuel pressure when it started to run bad. Replaced the fuel pressure regulator...no easy task on a Votec 454......didn't move 20 feet before it stalled and ran like crap again........pulled the tank again and spotted the problem!! Dirt and crap in the bottom of the fuel tank and the fuel pump filter sock had a lot of fine silt/rust type material on it causing the sock to suck closed. My old eyes never saw it the first time I pulled the tank as I put a rag over the tank opening and never really looked closey at the sock/filter. I bought a new GM pump that comes complete, cleaned out the tank and never had a problem again. Porbably got a load of dirt from a gas station that had bad pump filters. Some low priced station that's staffed by Taliban gas pumpers got me ! I change my fuel filter often after that experience...........Check your fuel pressure !