idle, chug, chug...dead

I have a 1996 Buick Roadmaster Estate wagon with 103,000 miles and the big v8 engine...this afternoon I had my first real problem. On my way to lunch I was at a stoplight and all of a sudden the car started chugging, jerking and died in the middle of the road. I tried several times to restart to no avail.

An individual rode behind me as I pushed the car to the side of the road, he asked the issue and I told him what happened...he then asked me to give it another try while he was near the muffler...he said it might be the fuel pump (can you tell that by being next to the muffler)?

I'm just trying to get an idea of the problem before I consider taking/towing this thing in somewhere...or if it can be done at home with my father in law (army mechanic/pilot).

thanks so much.

Welcome to AF, got spark, fuel pressure at the rail? these are step one basic diagnostics. He was listening for the fuel pump running, if it is bad the tank must come out, not really a d'way type repair..

If this still has the throttle body with two injectors try starting by spraying starting fluid into the throttle body. If it starts it is a fuel problem.
I think you might have a defective timing chain. Pull the distributor cap and turn engine by hand past tdc about 50 degrees. Turn back to tdc mark the rotor tip and the dist. have some body watch and tell you when the rotor starts to turn stop if it gets past appx. 20 degrees it has two much slop.
A timing chain is a good weekend job for you.
Electrical check for spark if no spark ohm the coil. Advance will check the module for free. If these test ok replace the pickup in the dist.
Haynes will show you how to do these tests.