This is a revisit as I never got this issue resolved.

When I first turn the starter over, it cranks as if the battery is weak (or hot starting) barely turning the motor over. But once it makes the first revolution, it turns over fine.

It never fails to start but something isn't right!

Battery is in the bed, new starter (have tried other starters).

Lots of things it could be...What have you checked so far?

loose connection, too small a wire, bad ground.

Eventually it will find itself for you. Not trying to be a

smarta%%, but on the initial hit, it isn't making good contact, and after a second or two, it does, but it can't continue like that, it will do some damage. Just my
You say battery in the bed, where is the ground wire going, remember the body is resting on rubber mounts.

ignition a little too advanced? whats your compression ratio?

I have looked for loose wires/connections but haven't found one... The battery is grounded directly to the starter.

Compression is 9.1:1 and ignition is about 30 degrees.

Why is it that when guys ask members for help they can not supply more info to help the cause?
1. what gauge power wire and what length?
2. What size ground wire, gauge, and length?
3. Are you using a stock starter relay or after market? (I like the Ford ones.
4.what starter and when was maintenance done to it.
5. did you ever clean the surface where the starter bolts on.
6. Since you are grounding to the starter did you ever try going directly to the engine block.
7. Did you use a chassis ground too?

I'd pull the plugs and see if it repeats the problem, and also to see if you strike water.

If you don't have a gear reduction starter on a high compression engine it's hard to get it cranking. Once it gets turning it's ok.

pull coil wire and try, most likely timing

Why is it that when guys ask members for help they can not supply more info to help the cause?
1. what gauge power wire and what length? 00 gauge and about 10 feet
2. What size ground wire, gauge, and length? 00 and about 10 feet
3. Are you using a stock starter relay or after market? (I like the Ford ones) Stock
4.what starter and when was maintenance done to it. New starter off of a late model Durango. Tried my starter off the big block I had that worked fine on that car, but same issues with this truck so I want to rule out the starter.
5. did you ever clean the surface where the starter bolts on. Yes, I cleaned every contact surface.
6. Since you are grounding to the starter did you ever try going directly to the engine block. I have a ground from the block to the chassis as well as a steel plate motor mount on the driver's side that acts as a ground also.
7. Did you use a chassis ground too? Yes

Fast: I doubt there are any fluids in the cylinder as it has done this for years. But maybe that is why it only ran in the high 9's!

Rick: I don't have high compression.

440: I will give that a try...

8. Did you ever have the battery load tested?
9. Did you ever check the amprege drawl with a meter on the starter while trying to start it?
10. did you ever hook up a charger to the battery and turn the charger on to the start setting to give it more amps/
11. If you put a real slow (1/2-2 amp) charger on for 24 hours how does it crank over.
12. With the sparkplugs removed how many foot pounds does it take to turn over the engine?

It really sounds like a bad ground. Could you temp a shorter ground off the battery to something just to test it?

See if your carb is dumping fuel while it sits.. that
can load up a cyl or two.. then start spinning

I also have a ground from the battery to the bed...

I have grounds all over the place!

Also, this is FI, so no carb!

my car developed the same issue when I moved the ground from the frame to the engine block using 0 gage multi-strand welding wire(battery in truck). I just removed a mopar mini-tq starter and installed a new promaster xs. haven't tried it yet, i'll let ya know, but I think its in the ground.

Mr P: Since I have a switch that turns on the ignition/computer and fuel pump seperately, I can try to start the truck for a few seconds to "clean out any fuel" that may be accumulating as you are suspecting. Without the fuel pump on, the rails, injectors and cylinders should now be clean of fuel. I will wait a fuel hours and try again.

It acts as if it is a ground problem or loose connection or too much timing... Except, as I mentioned before, when I first try to start, it turns over slowly. But after the initial try, if I turn the key to off, then back to try and start it, it turns over easily.

Maybe I will make a vid/sound clip this evening.

It does sound like a ground issue.. but we had the
same thing on production cars that was a injector issue