at the end of the day
starts up fine I guess

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and in the morning. not a big deal just want to know what I can do to make it start up nice and smooth

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The only difference I can discern is that the morning start takes a bit more crank time.

I would suspect that you are losing some fuel pressure as the vehicle sits. Then it takes a little bit more crank time to build up enough pressure (31 psi) for the engine to start.

You could confirm this all with a fuel pressure gauge. Or a quick and dirty test would be for you to try the "poor mans prime" tomorrow morning. Detailed below. If this technique allows the engine to start quickly, you have confirmed a fuel pressure loss.

1. Turn key to ON position (do not crank the engine!)
2. The fuel pump will energize and run for a couple of seconds
3. Turn key to OFF position
4. Repeat above a two more times
5. NOW crank the engine over

If the engine starts quickly and cleanly after performing this procedure, you are losing pressure somewhere along the fuel delivery route. If it starts and runs poorly for a few seconds, it could also be a leaky fuel injector resulting in the bleed down and the stumble upon startup is the engine clearing the excess fuel that has leaked into the cylinder because of the faulty injector.

 

just got smog done today. I do have a vacuum/vapor leak

 

sweet I just got the fuel line fixed today with the smog
and I've got plans for neon injectors anyway. so if you're right then I'm coverd no matter what