but other wise runs great. tows my 3000lb boat up mountains like a champ even get about 15-16mpg towing. I replaced the gas filter and added some fuel tune up by prestone no help. I have to turn the ignition key for about 2 seconds 3 times for it to start. 3 time it starts instantly(hear no crank)! I 'd like to know where I should start troubleshooting. spark plugs/cap/roter/wires/fuelpump/emmisions/coil????????? OR SHOULD I BRING IT IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC? I don't have a check engine light lite up.

I've got an old F100 (1970) pickup that I put less than 1000 miles a year on, so it does a lot of sitting. I try to take it for a drive every weekend, but sometimes it sits for a few weeks at a time. Less than a year ago, I found that the rubber fuel hose that connects the metal fuel line to the fuel pump appeared to have been chewed on and was leaking, so I replaced it. Last week, I noted that it looked chewed on again, but was not yet leaking. Today when I checked it, I found it was leaking where it was chewed (almost exactly the same spot as before). Thankfully, I had enough new hose to change it again. I'm guessing it's just a matter of time before this happens again. My assumption is that a rodent of some kind gets under the hood (no other signs of one though) and is chewing on the line from time to time. The hose does not seem to be rotten...the rest of it is solid. Any ideas on what I could do to stop this? I've thought about slipping some 3/4" or 1" flexible metal electrical conduit (greenfield) over it as armor, but I'm hoping there may be some other alternative, perhaps even a different kind of hose I might be able to use. Thanks for any suggestions...