1985 Ford E-Series Van engine died wont start

Hi there. I have a 1987 van that was doing the same thing to me. most times it would only happen after the engine was hot and i had been driving for a few miles (around 20 or so). Anyway, Take the air cleaner tube( the big ones there) on the top of the cover closest to you when you open the hood off the air cleaner cover. pour a bit of gas into it. if the engine now fires up, I have your answer. The fuel pumps are acting up. There is a high pressure pump and a low pressure pump that is in the gas tank. I would suspect your problem to be with the high pressure pump. This pump is located (on my van) under the frame rail by the driver door. it is kinda hidden there. To check if the low pump is working, take off the fuel line from the tank to the high pressure pump and turn on the ignition there should be fuel flowing out of that line. if not the tank pump is shot. if there is then you have a high pressure pump failure. you to check that one do the same with the high pump. you might also want to check the fuel return tank that has 4 hose on it to be sure it is not clogged up. On th 89 model it is right next to the gas tank. There is no way to check that tank thing you have to get a new one. I assume that you have made sure that the fuel filter is not clogged too.There is also a fuel relay for the system but it is very unlikely that it failed. This problem drove me nuts for quite awhile till I got it figured out. it even stumped a dealer mech. The high pressure pump costs about 300.00 the other 45.00 the tank return about 50.00. Good luck there