What could be wrong with my 1988 pontiac firebird? distributor?

[notnow]

The car idles low it seems and it dies when in reverse or drive(when no pressure is applied to the gas pedal) but it starts right back up with no hesitation, sounds like it may be the timing? new distributor cap and rotor, new spark plugs/wire, new battery, new fuel pump. tried adjusting the distributor and it turns with little effort. would the timing reset after putting on the new dist. cap and rotor? seems to be having the same problem as before i put the new cap on. starts up, idles but idles rough like not firing right, then dies in reverse or drive. but once i apply the gas it has no hesitation to go, and it cruises very smooth. how hard is it to adjust the timing myself?

also, i asked the advise of a mechanic who seemed knowledgeable and he said it may be the timing and if you turn the distributor clockwise it will adjust the firing speed and it wont continue to stall. tried this but it seems the range the dist will turn is from 7'o clock to 2'oclock and even at 2'oclock it still stalls.

boy i've tried everything anyone have any ideas? maybe using a timing light to get it exact?

 

[sam]

adjust the idle, its usually a screw you turn, and timing is set but the distributor and with the camshaft, not the cap,

 

[Zimgxp]

Check the Idle Air Control Valve. It is on the underside of the throttle body. Turning the distributor clockwise will retard the timing. There is also a Wire to disconnect to do the timing. It is in the wiring harness above the Heater under the hood Irrc it is a brown wire. Unhook this wire and set the timing to 6 degrees BTDC