82 camaro won't run, help please

I have bought a 82 camaro for about $300 bucks, I was told there was only a wire off. It's been about two years since I bought it and have just recently got around to it. The car will turn over fine and if I try long enough and really work it it'll start, but only run for about 3 secounds and dies off. It wont idle either. The engine is "The Duke" 2.5 in-line four CYL. every thing is stock. I would really like to know whats wrong with my car. If you have any suggestions or comments post them please.

Answer most people will give you here: Swap the engine out

My answer. Take out the volt meter and test like and start tesing wires and relays and making sure everytrhing is good. Grab a Chilton or Hanyes manual for it, or i fyou have access to AllData, even better. Once you've tested everything, make sure it is in the right firing order and take a look at your whole ignition system.

Currently on my 2.8 I am around the same stage you are, it is getting closer to running but not quite, hopefully that will be fixed today. So far to get to this point i Have had to replace quite a few iginition things;

Plugs
Wires
Cap
Rotor
Coil
Ignition Control Module
o-ring
Ignition Coil and I might still have more to come :)

Another thing to check would be your timing, borrow or go buy a timing light and see if you got the timing right, if it isn't set right, it make stall out and die, if it is too high it may stall out and die, if it is just right, you will be fine :)

Try priming it with a little fuel down the carb.. If it starts up, you probably have a carb/ fuel delivery problem..

I't has a single injector throttlebody on it. I really don't want to have to throw more money in this car. would a buick 70's Buick V8 fit in this? I was actually going to cheak the timming. I really hope that it's just firing to early. When I was out tring to get it started it would shoot a flame out the throttle body. I was told to look at the timing or I had a bad cam shaft.l

definatly sounds like a timing problem to me. you mentioned a wire off, what wire exactly was that???? could be kinda important.

Yah if its backfiring through throttlebody sounds liek timing. I got one wire coming loose from my igniton coil aswell, need to find another 2.8'r to help me find out where it connects too

Being a four banger I would suggest you do a compression check before you get to involved