You most likely wouldn't smell fuel when it's a bad pump right? Maybe he didn't really smell gas or am I wrong? (just trying to improve my own diagnostic skills..)
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I had a similar issue with a 5.7 chevy truck not starting, after running rough for a few days, stalling etc..
Turned out to be a corroded distributor. It was so bad chunks of the reluctor, (I think it was), were falling out when I pulled the cap off. I gather GM don't vent the cap area, and condensation over the years, finally takes it's toll.
A Vortec truck engine runs the fuel pump for three seconds when the key is turned on. You can listen for the pump and the pump shutoff. When the engine is cranking, there is no fuel until there is oil pressure (that's why there is a separate circuit in the oil pressure sender on this engine).