bought an 86' with the 2.5l a month ago and still can't get it to fire. Guy I bought it from said it backfired and shut off and wouldn't start again. I replaced the distributor instead of just doing pickup coil. The truck cranks just fine and has spark. I know fuel pump is bad I haven't changed it yet. I have tried pouring gas and spraying starter fluid to get it to fire but still nothing. I've checked everything I can think of but I'm not a fuel injection guy. So if anyone knows please help

 

If you know the fuel pump is bad, it's cheaper to do it now, then if your fuel pressures are in range, we can only hope it fires up. What makes you believe the fuel pump is bad, BTW? With the backfire, you MAY have an exhaust issue like an old catalytic converter plugging the system up. Does it even try to start at all?

 

Welcome to the forum. Sounds like a worn cam gear or a loose timing chain might have jumped a tooth or two . You might check that.
You will get more views if you move this discussion to the S10 section of the forum as this is just the Welcome New Member section