I changed the fuel pump (what a pain in the ass !&#33 and unfortunately it still does the same thing - tries to start , runs terribly for about 2 seconds and then dies. The fuel pressure gauge does the exact same thing - jumps up to about 12 pounds and then nothing . A friend of mine found some info on the web about a 99 Corvette that was doing the exact same thing and it turned out to be the regulator . He was wondering about the regulator and said he'd read that it was in the fuel tank on the F body cars but I read that it's the disc shaped object between the fuel rails on the 98 LS1 where the fuel line comes in from the tank . Did the Trans Ams have fuel return line or was there just the evap line reading tank pressure ? I'm thinking that if the evap system is reading a fault , then the computer will shut down the fuel pump . I will say that my oil smells a bit gassy . How could my truck have been running for almost 6 months if the fuel lines and regulator were wrong ?! I've got to say - I feel pretty damned lucky that I ever even pulled this swap off and got it running ! Thanks for all replies .