Chevrolet Repair: Fuel filter, rubber mallet, gas tank

Question
I have a 1997 chevy 1/2 ton 5.7 liter it will crank but not start it lets out a burbling noise out the exhaust every once in a while as you are cranking. I can hear the fuel pump come on for a few seconds could it still be the fuel pump? Mark (one of your other experts) in one of your other forums says to hit the gas tank with a big hammer while cranking and if it is the fuel pump it usually gets it working for a while,isn't this dangerous or at least opening up the possibility of putting a hole in the tank?

Answer
Well if you think it's too dangerous then put a 2by4 in the place you want to hit so that your hammer doesn't come in direct contact with the tank, or you could use a rubber mallet. Another thing to check is the fuel pump fuse and relay before you go tearing the tank out to get to the pump.