Need help

[1985dangerranger]

Hey guys having trouble figuring out what’s wrong with my ranger I was on the highway when all the sudden the ranger started backfiring then choked it’s self out so I pulled over and discovered my electric choke thermostat went out I was able to get the ranger to run and limped it home but it was running really rich and died 2 times on the way home and was misfiring the next day I replaced the choke thermostat and spark plugs and it ran a lot better but it would not put the power to the ground it would just rev up really high and I would be flooring it and going only 35 so I thought maybe since it was running so rich I clogged the cat so I took it off and I’m in the process of cleaning it but I tried to start the ranger without the cat and it just dies
It was running fine just was really sluggish can’t figure it out

 

[97RangerXLT]

What engine?

if it is a four cylinder, maybe your timing belt jumped a tooth?

AJ

 

[1985dangerranger]

2.8 forgot to include that

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The rotor has two screws that secure it. I had one back all the way out and the other partway... at highway speed my rotor desentigrated. Maybe if it was just loose it would muck up the ignition timing?