Okay heres the background info:

Bought 88 IROC vert, mainly because of 2 things: it ran, and it was a vert. It needed alot of work, but it was all simple things. It was able to run and drive fine, with good power, and no noises, despite very old gas.

One day it developed a valve tick, I noticed after that, the car had too much oil, I drained it down to the proper level, and added some marvel mystery oil, to help with the valve noise, it did nothing.

I pulled off the valve cover, to discover a loose rocker arm, and after kicking the engine over enough, to close the valve, I snugged the arm, and re-assembled everything. (the only wires I touched were the wiper motors', as the motor was in the way) I hop in the car, and try to start it, but nothing, it just keeps turning over and over without a sputter, until the battery dies.

Today I brought the battery to the auto parts store to charge it, and bought a new ignition coil and new fuel filter. After replacing these parts, I got 1 or 2 sputters out of the engine with alot of pumping the gas, etc.... but no idle, nothing close, just nothing..

Car is: 88 Iroc, 305 TBI T5 Tranny, canadian with ac delete, and im not running the smog pump.

Installed:
NEW alternator
NEW fuel filter
NEW coil & wire
NEW water pump
NEW belt
NEW thermostat
NEW air filter
NEW oil & filter

I checked every wire around the distributor, spark plug wires, all fuses are good etc.... One thing I noticed is a relay on the firewall, with a plug that wont seat all the way onto the socket, It may be unrelated, but Im not sure. Im at a loss, I dont know what happened, i literally ran it RIGHT before I pulled the cover off, and despite the tick, it ran FINE.

If I cant fix it, I will have to sell this car, I dont want it to come to that, but I DONT have the money to spend on it.

Any and all help is GREATLY appreciated!!!

 

I just want to clerify something here its an 88 IROC with TBI? IROCs coudnt get TBIs as it wasnt even an option? I just want to clerify that your sure its a TBI IROC so we can start troubleshooting.

 

Yes, IROCS CAN have TBI. This is a true IROC, with TBI.

 

Nevermind. Problem solved.

 

What was it if you dont mind me asking.

 

Timing jumped.

Replaced Timing chain, cap, and rotor, and she runs again.