Strange starting problems..need some advice.
 

Mods are listed in sig, battery is pretty new.

When I go to crank the car, it usuallys turns over indefinately without starting on the first attempt. As soon as I left off the key, it will usually backfire loudly through the exhaust. On the second start attempt, it will either start immediately, or go through another crank and backfire cycle, and fire right up on the third attempt. Obviously, this is a little embarrassing...

Any suggestions you guys could offer me I would appreciate a lot...

-Sam

Sup man...
Its time to pull out the fuel pressure guage.

I was having pretty much the same problem as you, and it ended up being a bad fuel line on the walbro that I installed. In your case, it may be that the stock pump is on its way out.

Connect the guage to the fuel rail, turn the key on and see if you get 55-60PSI. Once the pump shuts off, make sure it stays there. Mine didn't stay, the pressure would just release. That's why the car doesn't start on the first attempt.

https://ls1tech.com/forums/generation-iii-external-engine/237809-why-won-t-my-car-start-first-try-anymore.html

Good Luck..

My guess would be an ignition issue. The backfire leads me to think that the engine is flooded when it finally starts. Therefore its not getting any spark on the first few attempts.

How the engine run afterwards?
Does it run rough?
Does it consume more fuel than it used to?
Any other symptoms/issues you can think of?

BTW, this probably isn't the best section for this issue.

If a mod wants to move the post then I have no problem with that. Wasn't really sure where to put it.

The car runs fine after it does start. Doesn't bog or anything that I can tell.
I can try to FP gauge, that's not a bad idea at all.

Does anyone have any other suggestions? Won't be able to get to a gauge until the weekend.

Sam