suspect your electric (in tank) fuel pump

[WebPilot]

 I "drove" the sheet metal pump/sender retainer ring off with a hammer and drift. I replaced the pump but reused the motor damping rubber--the new one was the wrong size. I also replaced the sheet metal ring I "drove" off.

[WebPilot]

 Everything went back together EZPZ except for getting the tank back into place single handedly. Eventually, I accomplished that, too.

[WebPilot]

 knock on wood ... no probs since the replacement.

[WebPilot]

 Last Saturday, after I made a few trips around town, the starter would crank but the engine wouldn't fire. After about 15 mins of sporadic trial and error, the engine ignited and I drove the car home.

[WebPilot]

 The engine again failed to start yesterday. Again the car is untrustworthy for the first time since I replaced the pump in March.

[WebPilot]

 Again, this last time the engine refused to fire I found

• with the coil/distributor cap wire pulled from the coil's terminal end, and the boot held a bit away from where it belonged, one could hear and feel "spark" while the starter cranked the engine and
   
• with the cap from the schrader valve removed, I depressed the needle valve and found only a little stream of gas emerged from it, but not a very energetic spray.

[WebPilot]

 I suspected the fuel pump again, even though I could here it hum when the ignition switch was turned to the ON position. After I drove it home, I turned the engine off and then just turned the key to the run position -- I heard a "grinding" noise coming from the pump.

[WebPilot]

 So, Sunday I dropped the tank and replaced the fuel pump again -- it was still under warranty thus, I got a free replacement.

[WebPilot]

 The car ran fine Monday.

[WebPilot]

 Tuesday, I made two trips to a friend's house (round trip < 2 miles) only to have the car crank, but not start. After about a 15 min wait, it did decide to start so I drove it immediately home. I left it idle and it "died" again.

 I pressed the Schraeder valve and saw a spray.

 I pulled a spark plug boot, inserted a spare plug, cranked the engine and saw NO spark.

[WebPilot]

 Whatever the problem is/was, it "disappeared" long enough for me to drive the car home. While idling, the engine shut off again in 5 minutes.

[WebPilot]

 I confirned ... no spark.