Hard first start of the day hot or cold.

[Futzy1]

Every morning my 73 Dart Custom takes a bit of cranking to turn over. Nothing crazy, but a solid 5 seconds to get going. Doesn't matter if it is hot or cold, just if it's been parked for more than a few hours. However if it's a restart, she starts right up.

I took a look at the service manual, but everything there was temperature related. Could it be a bad deal in the fuel pump?

Thank again
Futzy

 

[Mattax]

Give it a couple of extra shots from the accelerator pump. If nothing comes out the squirters, then the fuel in the accel pump or the fuel bowl is low.
Sometimes the pump check valve doesn't quite seal because something in the fuel distorted it.
Not sure what carb you have on there so one or none of these apply.
But a visual on the accel pum shot coming out the squirters is easy to check with the air cleaner lid off.
Actually, if 2-3 extra pumps of the throttle solve the problem, then you know that pump is working fine. Then it just might be the fuel in the bowl is a little low.