You want to edit the file /etc/lilo.conf and change the line "timeout" to "timeout = 100" (that tenths of second making it 10 seconds). Then as root you need to run the command "lilo -v" to rewrite the map file.
To default to Linux, in the same file above, make sure the line "default = whatever the linux stanza below it is called".
Boot options can be passed to the kernel at boot by pressing the tab key once when you are in the lilo screen. But you need to know what options you want to pass. That info is found in "man lilo.conf" and the entire list is in /usr/src/`uname -r`/Documentation/kernel-parapmeters.txt. There are a whole mess of them.
Normally though, repair of a linux system, if that is what you are getting at, is usually accomplished by going into "linux-tui" from the lilo screen and working there, or by running a Live Linux CD and mounting the partitions you might need to work on from the Live CD.