2000 Ford Expidtion, has not been used for about 4 months. When trying to start it, it as if its not getting gas. started it once with either and it ran. took it for a drive, came back turned it off, when to start it and again acted like it was not getting gas

Check for spark to the sparkplug. Try a shot of starting fluid as having gas pumping and having the fuel injectors opening are 2 different things. If you have spark, then the fuel injectors may not be working. Quick diagnosis is to use starting fluid and see if engine tries to run. This indicates problem is not lack of spark but lack of fuel getting into cylinders.

Have you put a fuel pressure gauge on the fuel rail,
to check for pressure?
Do you hear the fuel pump running, when you
cycle the key?
Did you check for spark?

I think when you asked the question,
you knew the answer

This sounds familiar to me. I assume you replaced the fuel filter, if not, do so. Anyway, the same thing happened to be and I made it to the garage somehow and they said it was the pump, located inside the tank. 3 days later I picked it up and paid $350.00. It happened again a month later and I had it towed home ( the service garage changed hands and would not honor warranty). I unbolted and unstrapped the gas tank with a jack under it. The gauge said 1/4 tank so I figured on 40 lbs of fuel plus the tank.....wrong.... The tank was empty and the fuel pump had never been replaced. I has just never run my tank down that low before, so I had no way of knowing the gauge/float was miscalibrated. You never know....

The gasoline in it is very likely no longer any good. Put new gas in with an additive designed to remove water and it should turn over.

Usually - black smoke is unburned gas..
Could be bad gas..
Could be an intake issue causing wrong mixture of gas & air..
Try using a higher octain..

Clutch slave cylinder, yes it may be bad, sure sounds like it.

gasoline will go bad! if you plan to store your vehicle use something like "STA-BIL" to prevent this. you may need to remove the gas that is in it and replace it with some that is fresher.

info on sta-bil:
http://www.goldeagle.com/brands/stabil/default.aspx

the starting problem could be head gasket if it got really hot..... black smoke wouldn't be oil, and gas would stink but not black smoke if it's old, it wouldn't really matter if it had been sitting for 4 months. black smoke is probably caused by a gas mixture problem, or maybe a stuck fuel injector.

yes i am getting spark

check the pick up sensor