I get you want to save money. If you think you are going to keep this truck getting a service manual will help There is a learning curve in figuring out how they have things named and written up. This is the publisher of the OE manuals. If you want a paper manual they have them too. Much more expensive.
https://www.bishauto.com/literature/...service-manual

EDIT I forgot there is a FSM in the FAQ section free to download.

 

I didn't need to pull my distributor when I did my plenum, and a bunch of other stuff, on my '96 5.9 I would personally recheck the timing on the engine.