I'm trying to get my 1988 240 (~160K miles) going. Previous owner said "new plugs wires dist. cap ... i just can't seem to get this car to run like it should, keeps wanting to stall out could just be bad gas i don't know. i drove it for years with no problems, let it sit for 6 months ... removed the cat, no change."

I drove it ~ 15 miles yesterday. Temp gauge stays low but heat rolls out when you open the hood. Exhaust is hot from the manifold back to rear muffler. Intermediate muffler too hot to touch. Plugs are dark. The car seems to run fine w/ RPMs up but there's no power low to medium RPM eg. push down the pedal on a flat road and nothing happens for a while. But it will do 70 and hold that.

Work I've done so far:

1. When I 1st took it out it would barely go. I disconnected the AMM, limped home, replaced that. Big improvement. I thought at 1st that his described problems were from a bad AMM but now I think it's a coincidence - it failed after I got the car.

2. Replaced the exhaust system tip to tip w/ a good system from my wagon (being junked due to rust). Did a full throttle body & flame trap service.

I've read through several threads in the archives here and expect that it is a problem of too much fuel from a) ign timing is retarded; b) a sensor has failed; c) bad IAC.

I going out now to check/ re-check plugs, wires, cap, rotor, timing, IAC, FPR.

The PO was sure that he hadn't touched the timing belt so I don't think it could be a notch off.

if the motor water temp was hot, I'd suspect fuel starvation (bad fuel pump, filter, etc) but the hot exhaust and dark plugs indicate fuel is being burned in the exhaust system.
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240s: 2 drivers and some parts cars