just to test fuel pressure and to see a leak, i hooked up the gauge and turned key to on, let it prime, then off. gauge held at about 42-44.. how long should it hold this? thanks

 

A few min. or so, but its more important that it shots up there as soon as you turn the key on.

 

Not true. It going up when you turn the key on only tells you the pump works. It has to hold pressure as well. If it doesn't then either one or more of your injectors are leaking and no good or your FPR is leaking and no good. Either one of those conditions will cause a poor running engine.

 

The other possibility is a faulty check valve in the fuel pump. That will make starting hard, but will not affect the way the engine runs.

 

well it was my FPR, it leaked like crazy when i took the vacuum line off it. changed it out and no more hard starts. thanks guys

 

ok guys a little more to the equation... my fuel pressure went down to 36 at idle after new FPR... and i took it to drags last night and it cuts out, i couldnt get a good run in. was cutting out everywhere, could only give part throttle.

it doesnt dump fuel pressure on WOT but it never reaches 40 psi, sound like a crappy FPR and could be my issue?

 

Sounds like a dying fuel pump.