even cheaper to double check fuel pressure first.

Is it possible to check fuel pressure on a car that wont run? If so, how? I know that a guage gets attached to the fuel rail, but that'* it.

sure, attach gauge, put ign switch on run, and look at gauge. Turn off ign switch, see if fuel pressure drops.

Have you looked at the plugs to see if they're wet or dry?

i haven't pulled the plugs yet. that'll have to be a project for tomorrow, it'* a rainy day here in PA.
thanks for all the advice guys

Pull it in the garage

Okay, the plugs all seemed fine.
it still continued to crank away without firing. one more try, and she started. idled great for about 5 minutes. i got in and stepped on the gas for a hot minute to see if there would be any misses and she died and then made this cough sound. weird. i tried to start her back up....crank, no start.
i don't get the intermittent starts.

Have you checked the fuel pressure and spark?

Good chance it'* an ICM and also fuel.

Bill, I got the ICM yesterday. Thank you for the quickness in getting it to me. I put it on last night, and my car started immediately. She idled perfectly for about 5 minutes. As she was running, I looked around under the hood (remember, I saw a little bit of smoke the one time). All seemed good, so I did my happy dance. Then...the idle slowed down and became choppy, there was also smoke coming from the crank sensor area. Not alot of smoke but enough....and the engine quit. Down by the harmonic balancer, just behind it, there is a wire plugged into something....not sure what it is. i'm assuming it'* the shield for the crank sensor?? Well, that wire looks melted. Am I right in guessing that'* the crank sensor?

Crank sensor is right there, yes.

Depending on how you want to go about fixing that it might be easier to pick up a harness from a junkyard.

That harness connects to the ICM/Crank sensor/Cam Sensor and then hooks to the main harness to the right of the ICM/coils by the fuel rail. It'* a stand alone harness and while probably being a pain to change on the car. It is an alternative to repairing the one you have.

If you find you don't need the ICM.. ship it back and I'll return the MO..