My truck will run for a little while and it starts over heating and will die,

Oh man that' doesn't sound too good. Thanks man i thought it was sensors that's what the guy at auto zone said. Now i know where to start looking

A sensor is just that, A SENSOR!,it tells you that something is wrong,it not the actual item that is bad!!..JUST check everything!!.

One more thing it might make things a little easier for me if you don't mind? If i put a cold rag over the distributor to cool it will crank right up. I can't afford another truck so im ready to tear her down. Do you know of why that could be?

Your engine block is so hot, it getting that area very hot also and so preventing the distributor from working correctly. CAN YOU send a pic of the inside of the distributor cap and the stator.send to 570 516 0645