Here ya go guy:

http://www.wikihow.com/Adjust-Timing

Basic specs:

J11Y (or equivalent) spark plugs
.035" spark plug gap
1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 firing order
10° base timing
900 rpm base idle speed

Here ya go guy:

http://www.wikihow.com/Adjust-Timing

Basic specs:

J11Y (or equivalent) spark plugs
.035" spark plug gap
1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 firing order
10° base timing
900 rpm base idle speed

Ya disconnect the vacuum hose and plug it. Should be numbers on the timing tab, you may have to clean it, then mark the '0' with white paint, sharpie, wite out.. whatever you have.

I know you have had a lot of good advice sent to you but here is one more piece.

Often you may get a spark but not strong enough because the coil is going bad and weak. I suggest you see how far it will throw a spark at the end of the plug wire. If not at least 3/8" then replace the coil.

Once a car starts a weak coil can run OK but starting can be a bear.

I'm thinking about just throwing an ignition coil on there, they're only like 50$.

I know you have had a lot of good advice sent to you but here is one more piece.

Often you may get a spark but not strong enough because the coil is going bad and weak. I suggest you see how far it will throw a spark at the end of the plug wire. If not at least 3/8" then replace the coil.

Once a car starts a weak coil can run OK but starting can be a bear.

As long as you left the spark plug wire on the coil and only disconnected it from the center terminal on the distributor cap.

did this problem start after you got an aftermarket remote starter installed ?

I wouldn't buy a new stock coil. If you update the ignition system it is likely you will want a different one.

The situation is a bit strange. I've owned the car for a few years but has barely driven it until a few weeks ago. The car was with the mechanic I bought it from who was going to fix some tings on the it as part of the purchase, it took him forever to get it done. I picked the car up a few weeks ago to take it home, the same day I had the alarm installed. So the answer is I don't know, I'll try an ask the guy I bought it from.

for what it's worth, nothing more, i have fixed many, many vehicles over the years that have had aftermarket remote starters and alarm systems installed because the installers basically just "hack,chop, and clip" the wiring needed to make these systems work. not saying this is your problem, but that would be the absolute first place i would look. stereo shops seem to be the worst. they have guys that don't understand the interrelationship the wiring harness has between each system component, and although the instruction sheet that comes with the component being added "might" have the correct place to splice into the existing harness, seldom, if ever, does the component include, or even advise, the correct way to accomplish the needed splice. this leads to some of the most bizarre and really weird electrical issues. this sounds harsh, but i have repaired dozens of component add ons from one of the most "respected" stereo shops in the area. one of my biggest peeves in the automotive world is "hacked up" wiring by "experts" in their field ! in fact at this very time i'm in the process of re-wiring my buddy's wife's 72 duster that was wired by a fellow [actually a very good friend !] that has built quite a few very nice cars in his lifetime ! i now wonder what the wiring was like on those ? did i mention i HATE wiring HACKS ?