I have a 1989 f150 that we think the timing is of and will not start so we're wondering if there's any chance we can adjust it with it running. I'm known nothing about vehicles and got this truck to learn on but can't seem to get it running again

 

Not with EFI. You can get it in the general vicinity with it not running by getting the crank to 0*( on the compression stroke, the crank passes 0 twice in each 4 stroke cycle) then looking at where the distributor rotor is at in relation to the #1 terminal on the distributor cap. But to get it spot on, the engine needs to be running and use a timing light on the balancer and with the spout connector removed to see exactly where the initial timing is.

 

Hey Austinlb94, You can time the engine with out running as you do just as Baddad457 mentioned and with a timing light hooked up and with a degree wheel on the light set the dial to timing spec on the wheel 9say 10* btdc and distributor in close, turn ignition switch on pull the trigger on the timing light and rotate the distributor slowly and as the pickup in dist crosses #1 at correct time your light will flash. tighten dist hold down and timing is dead on.