So my 94 Loyale will semi-start if I hold the throttle to the floor.  When it does start, it barely keeps running with full throttle and it backfires (out the intake) the whole time.

 

I purchased this car in this condition so I cant give much information on the history of it.  I know the distributor & wires were removed, but I'm pretty sure I have it all back together correctly.

 

 Not getting any codes from the ECU either.

check the timing belts - that the marks are correctly oriented.

Backfiring suggests to me the distributor timing is off and maybe 2 of the spark plug wires are on the wrong plugs. 

Agree with John. The spark plug wires will likely be wrong. Place timing on 8 degrees when rotor button points to number one cylinder. I had the same issue last year and swore it was right but was 180 degrees out.

 

Tony

My disty is setup like this     3 1

                                             2 4

 

I had the #1 piston @ TDC and placed the rotor in a 1:30 o'clock position pointing towards the master cylinder.

Anyone think it could be bad gas?  Car has sat for 1.5 years with a 1/2 tank.

So I'm looking at the timing belts.  When the crank (#1) piston is at TDC, the dots on both cam sprockets are up.  I feel like 1 should be up and 1 should be down?

You are correct.   One cam sprocket hole should be up, the other down.    

You need to reset your timing belt on the passenger side.   Are you familiar with the entire timing procedure for EA82's?

Bad gas would just make it run bad.

Success!  Previous owner had R cam 180 deg. off.

 

Good call rdweninger & DaveT!  Thanks everyone!