i am sure that the wires are correct

 

Like Don was saying: You can have the wires 100% correct and the old owner could have installed a new distributor wrong.

 

I'm 18 and i replaced the rotor cap, D Cap wires a plugs, i just yanked everything out and replaced, but i cheated i had the haynes manual, but none the less i didnt run into any problems. But now i know why not to do that. Books arent always going to be there.

 

after re-reading teh original post I would check spark...maybe when the fill cap came loose maybe somehow the distributor cap got wet?

I would also check fuel pressure...the pump could have died..

 

not to over look the obvious, but are the plugs gapped properly? and are they all firing? you may have a bad plug. Don't assume they are all good. To check, with the engine running, pull the wires off the plugs one at a time (put them back on before going to the next one,) if u get to a plug that that doesn't change runnability, then it's not firing. Suspect a bad plug, or wire if the spark doesn't jump out of the boot and ground out.

Other than that, do a code check and see if something else is going on outside of the tune up. Don't assume that because there's no engine light, there won't be codes. they don't all set the light.

 

When you changed out the thermostat did you purge out the air bubble ? Sounds like your engine is overheating a little. The waterpump might be air bound.