what is the timing need to be set at on a 1988 F-150 5.8 fuel injected mine is off and the dist hold down was lose also when timing it is there anything special you need to do or just put on the timing light and time it this is my first ford so I've never timed one with fuel injection before is there a wire you have to disconect or somthing.

 

If you did not take out the distributor, all you need to do is put the balancer on 10* bdc. Then there is a little spout connector (should be near your distributor) that you pull out. then set your timing using a timing light and tighten the distributor down. Then put the pill back in and you are all set. My truck is a 94 and the pill is over on the drivers side firewall but yours should be right near the distributor but if not look on the firewall.

 

I got it thanks now if I can find the ex leak and fix the tank switch I'll have her whiped does any one no where the tank switch is at on the frame and what does it look like my gas gauages work but only the back tank is being used it wont switch to the front tank witch is full I think it the switch on the frame that is bad but I dont know what it looks like and where its at thanks 88 F-150

 

I have heard that alot of the time it is the dash switch that goes bad. You might track one down at the junkyard and switch it out just to rule out the easy stuff.

 

I might try that but when I switch it on the dash it shows that it is going from 1/2 a tank witch is the back tank then it shows full when it switches to the front tank seems like that this would tell a person the switch on the dash is working but its worth a shot?

 

I also own 88 and can tell you from your description you have problems with both senders or possibly a float which has filled with gas on the tank that registers low all the time. The tank sender that registers high all the time is either a wiring problem or some resistive material has worn away on the sender causing an open.

You also probably have a bad in tank pump on the side tank.

The black plastic selector valve mounted on the middle inside of the frame rail is mechanical. When you switch tanks, the intank pump builds up pressure to mechanically move some valves inside the selector valve which completes the path for the return fuel line and supply line that goes the the pump mounted on the frame rail.