It wont start anymore dammit

Heya guys, havent been on here in a bit.
I got a real annoying problem here. My 88 b2200 was stuttering when driven in any gear between 2 and 3k rpm. It was backfiring like crazy, but not the normal backfire, it was crazy sounding metal clunking sounding and then when i checked out my muffler one day it looked all swollen and bursting at some seams. So i figured the stuttering and the backfiring was caused by a foulty distributor. So I went to scrap yard, got a decent distributor that had a new cap and rotor on it and some brand new wires for $75, not bad. ($350 new, lol) and I bolted it on and it wouldnt start. So I stuck the old one back on and still no start. So I got a new Ignition coil, still wont start.
Can someone give me some suggestions?
Can someone post some pics of the wiring hook up to the coil? maybe im hooking that up wrong.
What is the hose going to the distributor for? mine is broken, could that effect it? I taped it together with electrical tape, but that doesnt seem to do anything.
Im so pissed. please help guys.

-Sergio

The hose going to the distributor is you vaccum advance, It should still run with that off those sounds like the wires at the blaster coil aren't on right...

Pull a plug and make sure your getting spark! If not there's your problem...

lets say im not getting spark, then what? it was running yesterday.

If your not getting a spark to the plugs there not gonna fire and your not gonna start!

If you don't have spark take the cap off the dizzy and have somone crank the engine. If the rotor spins, check the rotor contacts inside the cap. If it dosen't spin you have a broken timing belt. Also.. did you put the dizzy in directly or is there a chance that you could have flipped it 180degrees.
Mike

Ya what he said. The Number 1 piston needs to be at TDC. Then you align the markings on the distributor with the block. So when the dizzy is in it should be pointing to the number one cylinder on the cap. Then you time it.

ok, i will try playing with the rotor and the distributir some more. I just put it together and stuck it in then bolted it on. hopefully that fixes it.

yes mullet hit it right on the head again, im having the same problem because i just replaced the head gasket on my truck, and im getting spark but truck wont run, and i havent had a chance to flip my distibutor 180 degrees everyone that i have told this to told me to do that to the distributor they said it may run shitty cause it may still be off but get a timing light and adjust that bad boy till she runs like a caddy

So when I flip it 180 degrees, do I leave the wires on the same way? or do i rotate them in the correct firing order?
So far I have good spark, got new wires, plugs, coil, distributor.
I got fuel coming in, starter is cranking, battery is good. It fires loudly in the carb sometimes and a whole bunch of smoke pours out.
I tried starting it with the cover on and off, same thing.
Its really starting to piss me offf.
please some more comments and suggestions.