I swapped the 3.0 out of my 88 pickup with another 3.0 from a 94 4runner motor runs everythings fine..... Trucks running hot I cannot get my timing adjusted rite its either not enuf or to much theres no in between. Its either well over 15° or a little under 10° no in between witch ever way i redo my distributor.
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Welcome to YotaTech!

I doubt you have a vapor lock issue.

Are you jumping the E1 and TE1 terminals in the Diagnostic connector when you are trying to adjust the ignition timing?

When you jump these terminals, it puts the computer into a "base timing" mode and allows you to accurately adjust the distributor with the aid of a timing light.

If you do not have the E1 and TE1 terminals jumped, you will be fighting the Engine Computer which is trying to adjust the timing itself.

Attached is the Factory procedure for timing for a 1993 3VZ-E. I think the 1988 models are the same in this respect, but if someone knows that is not correct, please post.

The jumper can be a bent paper clip.

 

I did the jumper and it changed nothing and then engine lights flashes nonstop withe the jumper. Any ideas?

 

Assuming you've got the distributor in correctly - my buddy's 3.0 had the same symptoms recently. Turned out a mouse got in there and fell between the belt and crank sprocket. Got splattered everywhere but not before throwing the belt off from one or both cams a tooth or two. So check that. Actually, probably start with the TPS, that's much easier to check.

 

Had this problem. Turned out the parts dealer gave me a dizzy that was out of spec or a diff years model. The rotor was set just a tad bit counter clockwise than my original which through the firing order out of wack