Bought a 97 geo tracker the other day...2 door, 2wd, 5-speed, 16-valve. I will crank up and run but will die anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes after cranking. After it dies has to sit for a while before it will crank back up. When it is running it runs great. Maybe a slight miss...puff of black smoke when i get on it hard....it seems to die faster if i just let it idle...lasts a little longer if im on and off the gas. Here's what I know..

Have receipts for fuel pump and filter from previous owner from 6 months ago. When i turn the key on fuel pump sounds good. Just put a new filter on it just in case...so not the filter.
The computer was redone a year ago by some ecm place in texas...has the warranty stickers on the side. I unplugged it for 15 minutes to reset it and no difference.
I've checked over everything on the motor and everything is clean and orderly...nothing unplugged from what i can see. Plugs and wires are good...has fresh gas...

What action should I take next? Try another computer? Anybody have a idea? thanks...

You might call the place in Texas and see what was done to the
computer, because I don't know of any reason a 16V computer
should need service.

I would suspect a "power" chip, which is snake oil for these trucks,
or check out the MAF, clean it with MAF cleaner, but don't stick
anything into it to clean it, just spray it.

Also check to see if it's (MAF) installed the right direction

Wild

Thanks bud...you were right it was the MAF...runnin great now!

Bought a 97 geo tracker the other day...2 door, 2wd, 5-speed, 16-valve. I will crank up and run but will die anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes after cranking.

What action should I take next? Try another computer? Anybody have a idea? thanks...

It's always useful to read the trouble-codes from the ECU with a hand-scanner.  '96 and up has an OBD-2 ECU with nice diagnostics. That will point you in the right direction.  Glad you found an answer here, though!