my friends car does not want to idle right anymore. It goes up and down and seems to want to die. Also you can turn the distributor by hand, which I don't think is right, because you can not do that to my car. I don't know if the distributor has anything to do with it.

thanks
Matt

PS this is stock 2.8 auto.

If the distributer has come loose and turned itsself, the timing will be pretty far off. Yes, this can throw the idle.
I suggest that you reset the timing. Be sure to ground the diag pin of the ALDL connection first, or you won't be able to set it properly.
Then tighten the distributer clamp down, having it drift off is pretty bad for the engine.

ok, now the big question - how do I reset the timing? I am assuming I will need a timing gun? I am also assuming this procedure will be in the haynes manual, I haven't looked yet.

Is there a specific place we have to move the distributor back to or is that incompassed in reseting the timing?

the car is not starting anymore, I assuming this would have something to do with it.
(these are probably pretty stupid questions)

thank you for any help

Turn your engine over by hand till the timing mark on the harmonic balancer is at 10 degrees BTDC. The rotor should be pointing to the number 1 or number 4 post of the distributor at this time. Adjust it so it is and the car should start. This should get you close enough to start it. Let it warm up and short the "A" and "B" terminals of the ALDL located under the cover where the cigarette lighter is. Check the timing of the number 1 and number 4 cylinders, the average of these two is your actual timing, adjust as neccesary to get your timing to 10 degrees BTDC.

quote Originally posted by avengador1: Check the timing of the number 1 and number 4 cylinders, the average of these two is your actual timing, adjust as neccesary to get your timing to 10 degrees BTDC.

ok, that sounds easy enough, last question though, how do I check the timing, do I check where the rotor is pointed?

thank you for all your help

Do you have a timeing light?