loose wire and starting issues

[jeremy cato]

I have a 96 ranger with a 98 4.0l. My issue is that it will start and then just die like it isn't getting fuel. At the same time, I have a loose wire that runs with a distributor wire that ai have no clue where it attaches too. The wire it runs with is a blk/Orange stripe. I just put head gaskets and intake gasket on the motor. I need help, I'm baffled on this because the other day it fired up and ran fine. I go out there today and it does the same as before I got the vaccum lines figured out. I'm at my whits end and just ready to blow it u completely.

 

[Curious Hound]

How about a picture? And, what color is the loose wire? That's a bit more important than the non-loose wire it is near.