55,000 miles. new battery. new air filter. original spark plugs. runs very smoothly after starting. engine started having to turn over more then about 2 weeks ago. idle speed is slower I noticed. on acceceleration very smooth, doesn't miss or stumble, has good power. just new on set about starting. battery terminals are clean

Do you check the air and gas filters?

Start with the basics.
Check the following:
Air filter, spark plugs and high tension leads, fuel filter, all under-hood levels.

interesting, ricky ? could b anything. fuel filter needs changed, the fuel we use today is garbage, ethanol is bad for our older engines. add some of that new dirt to tank, something360. ??? also, maybe a wire connection is loose., or bad spark plug wires? something is missing its continuity , making the engine miss, not your transmission, u hope ? start with checking your battery conn., clean, tight, etc., replace plug wires, change spark plugs, maybe ? but your plug wires could b the problem. ??? think about it, engine starts ok, its when its running does the problem come up. you have fuel, you need spark, you also need clean air .......... change air filter....... pcv valve......egr valve ?? could b sticking ......you treat yourself good, yes? treat your engine good...whens last time the transmission fluid and filter was changed ??? that could also cause a miss, a surge......yes? i hope this helps you ricky, just use common sence, it always serves me well, good luck, ken

To clarify - are you saying it does not crank, or does not start ?
lt sounds like you are saying the engine will crank but not start, but then why would you need to jump the battery if that were true ?
If it cranks but does not start, have you checked fuel pressure with a gauge before and after cranking ? The fuel pressure could be low after sitting for a few hours if the check valve in the fuel pump is faulty.

If it turns, then the battery is OK. Either spark plugs are not firing in proper order (wrong firing order), no power to spark plugs, or no fuel because of fuel restrictions (dirty fuel filter). Inspect the air filter to ascertain its not clogged air. If you smell gas, then you saturated the spark plugs, which is why it refuses to run.
Let it sit for half hour to let spark plugs dry. Inspect to ascertain its not dirty spark plugs, which will also prevent engine from running. After ascertaining its proper firing order, spark plugs are clean, and there's power to distributor cap, ascertain there's fuel in fuel lines by squirting half second (short squirt) of starting fluid into air filter. Close the air filter housing to trap flammable starting fluid gas. Turn engine without giving throttle. Let starting fluid be ignited by spark plugs. If it won't start, then spark plugs are not firing to ignite starting fluid gas. If it starts briefly, but won't run when you give throttle, but catches when a 2nd person squirts more starting fluid into air filter just before engine stalls, then its a fuel restriction issue or no fuel in fuel lines.

Plug the block heater in , End get a good battery for it, get awinter battery, Not a california battery, Then it might start, If the engine has seen it,s better days, End don,t use snake oil in it, Use real oil.

plastic distributor ? wrong screws in rotor? timing?

U engine most likely need new piston rings, the fuel filter will not cause any type of deposit on the spark plugs How many miles, how much oil does it use in lets say 1000 miles?

Check if fuel or spark problem,..all engines need both to run...use starting fluid in air intake ,..if it runs very shortly-fuel pmp?,,ck for spark at spark plug,work your way back..also ck timing belt-intact? Kev-MN

Hi sierrabridge,
Check the igniter, the ignition switch and the ignition coil

Best regards Johngee10