wretched wretched vehicle

88 Crown Victoria.. 5.0 engine
almost 200k miles

This all began about a week after I fixed the fuel level sender thing.
The tank was cleaned tho.

I was driving down the highway when it lost power, like it was out of gas. made it off to a gas station, it died pulling in but made it to the pump. Smoke came from around below the firewall area.. I don't remember what color.

It wouldn't stay on unless kept it revved that night and the next day. It worked fine at the mechanics the next day.
And it ran fine for a week.
Then a few minutes from starting for the day and it does it again, it would die immediatly when giving it gas. Later that day it works fine and runs for another week.
It did it again, so changed fuel pump (the fuel pump is getting power and makes the humming noise when key turned), and it does not start at all anymore. Have also replaced Fuel Pressure Regulator and Throttle Position Sensor. It starts and runs a few seconds when spray starting fluid into manifold, but dies immediatly when given gas.

I just checked the rubber fuel hose bit coming from the pump and it doesn't have any holes in it.

Besides taking it to a mechanic... suggestions? That is probably my only option now tho, huh?


And it made it fine all the way from Alaska, too. *sigh*
Thanks


solved : was the timing chain