I have a 1988 22r pickup and it is very very hard to start. I have checked the timing and it is OK and replaced the plugs and verified that spark is getting to the cylinders. I can squirt a little starting fluid and it starts up and runs really good. If I turn it off, it is hard starting again. I am thinking it is either the fuel filter or fuel pump going bad. Any ideas or do you think I might be right?

Typically, a clogged fuel filter shows up under hard acceleration, not at idle.
Same for the pump.
And since it runs good once started, it pretty much eliminates both of those.
If you look down the throat of the carb and work the throttle, do you see it pump a good shot of gas into the throat?
Also check the choke circuit to make sure it's not acting up.

I have checked the output pressure of the fuel pump and it is between 2-3 lbs of pressure. I do not have fuel in the carb. and I cannot see any fuel in the little window. My choke works good, that is it will let the idle go down once the engine gets woarm. Could the choke cause more problems in the carb.?

I have just spent the past evening messing with it and made a discovery. The carburator was dumping too much gas in the engine, not like I thought earlier. I have adjusted the mixture screw now so that I do not need to squirt starting fluid to get it started. I need to adjust it more to get the vacuum up a little more and maybe adjust the dist. timing.