Could it be timing?

I have a 92 Eclipse GS and it doesn't seem to be working all that well. I recently just put a new oil filter housing on it and had to remove the crank pulley to reach a bolt. We put the housing and put the pulley on and timed the engine right or so I thought. The engine doesn't run very long. It was running a 1000 rpm's now its about 855-900 rpms. I can run for a short time. It will quit driving once the foot release the clutch. The spark plugs are new but have thick black residue on them. Not only that I hear a clicking sound in the cylinder heads. Its actually more of a tapping. I was told it was something to do with the valves but I don't remember exactly what it was but I know the guy did say some kind of valve problem.

The guy that was helping me told me he thinks its the timing but they're are some marks missing to line the pulleys up with. Could it be because the cover for the timing belt is missing. One more thing does anybody know where I can get an online version on timing the engine just to make sure me and a friend timed it right.