1998 2500 chevy wont start unless i pour fuel in throtle body when engine is cold

I had similar problems with my '98 K2500. I hooked up a pressure gauge at the connector on the manifold and was reading less than 20 psi on initial cranking, slowly increasing to about 52 psi after several sequential attempts. At around 54 psi, it sputtered to a stumbling start and then roared to life (normal rpm) after a few seconds. I replaced the fuel pump (in tank) and the problem went away. I hooked the pressure gauge up to the manifold connection and when I turned the key to the first position (activating the fuel pump) it read 62 psi. My truck now starts up on the first crank.

Check your fuel pump pressure, it is probably down in the 50 lb range and it requires a bit above that to start. Once it starts it will run on that pressure. This is a chronic problem with these, my 1998 2500 was a GMC but it's the same vehicle. I put 385,000 miles on it with no engine or transmission trouble but I was on fuel pump number six when I sold it.