help me

[done guessing]

I bought a 85 firebird this afternoon and when i went the told me it was off time and did not run. so i brought it home and i tried to start it and it would run for a couple of seconds and then shut off. It also backfired allot. so i checked to make sure the plugs were on the distributor right and they weren't. i think i have them the right way now but still no go. i think the distributor needs to be reset but im not sure what im doing :dontknow: and i dont have the money to take it to a garage. the timing might even need to be ajusted. my girlfriends brother has a timing light but i figured i would see if i could get some advice on how to narrow it down or what to di first befor i mess the car up even more than it is now. im also not shure if i posted this in the right spot so my apoligies if this does not fit into the catagorey im just despert for help. lol :rolleyes:

[96slow6]

Put the car at #1 tdc on the compression stroke then point the rotor at The #1 point in the cap. Make sure your fireing order is correct and start from there.

[five7kid]

Knowing what engine (V6, V8) and induction (carburetor, fuel injection) you have would be helpful, too.

[sleeperSS]

How old is the gas?

[done guessing]

i got it running it is a v-6 fi all that was wrong was that the dist was ****ed up but now i cant get it to hold an idol :[ sorry im not to good with cars im only 18 but trying to learn. :]