93 Altima Stalling, Sputtering, intermediate

[Stev-0]

Alright just picked this car up cheap and trying to get it running right cause the last owner gave up. Main problem was backfiring, sputtering on highway then would die shortly after. Well pulled the plug wires off and the last plug wire closest to oil cap was filled with oil. Looked down and saw part of the inner valve cover gasket folded. Ok easy enough, Replaced both inner and outer valve cover gaskets with all new plug wires, spark plugs gapped correctly, cap, rotor, also has a new fuel filter. Well the thing was running great then the sputtering came back. Checked for vacuum...pulled off the pcv hose and says im only getting 5in of vacuum. Well hooked it back up and the car was running terrible hardly running. Would not start after some cranks. Go back in like an hour cause i was pissed off and the thing started up and ran pretty well...still has misses every now and then. Id check fuel pressure but dont have the correct tester. I can hear the pump and it stinks like gas under the hood. Im thinking its still getting inefficient spark. But now i dont know what to think about the vacuum. Clogged Cat, Intake manifold gasket? No idea.

Reading up here on the forums it seems these altimas are known for having distributor issues? Something with the oil seal going bad and filling the distributor of oil which screws up the crank sensor? Im gonna pull off the cap tommaro and inspect again.

What would you guys do?

Any help would be great
-Steve

[Stev-0]

Ok took off the cap/rotor and examined it all looks fine no oil. Looks like its been replaced recently.

Did another vacuum test using the vacuum hose off the fuel pressure regulator and the car holds steady 17-18...if i hold the rpms around 2k it holds the same steady rate. If i rev it it will shoot down then come right back up. Is it safe to say this test is a pass? Im gonna say it has fuel but i havent tested the pressure. That leaves spark and possibly timing.

It starts missing bad once it warms up and its almost every 2-3 seconds it misses what should i do?

Could timing be off? Not sure how to set it on this car.

[Stev-0]

Some more observations

Car has a high idle 1-1.1k rpms never lower. That can mean a vacuum leak right? extra air going in?

Tell me this if i have correct vacuum in the range of 17 that would rule out the possibility of an intake manifold gasket correct?

I turned the distributor clockwise to the max and the thing seemed to run a little better at idle? Im not sure if i was imagining that.

It stinks of gas and it started to backfire some while missing, i have pulled off the coil wire and it sparks when cranking.

Also the EGR...when idle its closed, when i blip the throttle it doesnt move the only way to get it to move was for me to put my finger on it and push it up.

I dont get it:

Air
Fuel
Spark

What dont i have?

----Compression check tommaro

Help!