ok a buddy of mine has a 2001 dodge 1500 pick up with a 5.9l in it, and for a while now when you go to start it it cranks and cranks and cranks, probably 15 to 20 times and then it stumbles to a start, he's put 2 or 3 different pumps in it, and he has replaced some other things too, but i could not tell you exactly what has been replaced. now when it runs its like 60lbs of fuel pressure or so (i dont remember exactly) but then when you shut it off the fuel pressure does gradualy drop like 20lbs. just wondering if anyone has any ideas because he cant figure it out.

Is it hard to start when its hot or cold? If it starts fine when cold, You could have an injector drooling causing a flooding condition when warm. 60 Psi is little too much fuel pressure. Should have between 49 to 52 psi.

from what i understand it does it all the time hot or cold

The injectors might still be the problem. You can check them for leakage by popping them out of the intake and leaving them in the rail and actuating the fuel pump. Look for fuel to leak out of the tips. Just make sure the safety clips are on them so they dont blow out of the rail.

its either the fuel pressure regulator if its external or you have leaky injectors

My 96 Indy Ram was doing the same thing. Try turning the key on and let the fuel pump prime first,if it starts right up,then the pump is weak. I parked mine after work one day a few months back and it wouldn't start. So I poured some fuel in the throttle body,and the the truck started right up. The fuel pump failed. I put a new pump in,and now the truck starts right up in about a half of crank.

alright, i want to say the the reg. is internal. but thats for some ideas to start looking, thanks guys.

have you checked to see if it's throwing any codes? randomly replacing parts is only good for the parts store....

There are no code being thrown at all. and it is to my understanding that it is an intermitant problem, but more often then not it wont start. and it has to crank 15 of so times and it stumbles to a start, now a 2001 5.9 would that have a cam sensor? and it has been to many places and dealers, and they cant figure it out.

The distributor wheel serves as the cam sensor.