just an update. replaced the fuel filter with Bosch high capacity fuel filter from fastlane and haven't had the problem so far. i found that the PO had already changed it previously since there was a Purolator filter in there.
checked with Phil our partsman - he found that my car did not appear to have an accumulator. i checked the performance products parts pages and the accumulators were indicated only up til '92. my manual does indicate that cranking up to 4 seconds is normal so maybe that was it after all...