2.0L grand am problems

I just recently got this car for $300 from a friend. The car hadn't been cranked for like 3 years, but $300 for a 2.0 Turbo engine with 70K miles on it sounded like a good deal at the time. Im planning on using the motor on a sandrail, but I want to make sure the engine is running fine before I pull it. As soon as i got the car, I got it to crank up. It needed a battery and a new fuel pump just to crank. Then, the alternator turned out to be bad, so i got a reman and replaced it. I also washed the tank out, got the 3yr old gas out and put some fresh gas in, did an oil and oil filter change, changed the plugs and wires. Now, the car runs great for a while, then all of a sudden it will just cut off and wont crank back up. I have to let it sit for a while before it will crank up again. while it was in this condition, I started checking to see if it was getting fuel and spark. Its getting plenty of fuel, but when I went to test for spark, it started up again, so i need to wait for it to start acting up again before i can tell if its getting spark or not. anyone have any ideas as to what might be causing this?

I am confused! If it is running then it must be getting spark or it wouldn't run. It sounds like you had a bad connection somewhere, probably dirt in a connector that caused the problem. When you moved things around you probably dislodged the dirt or forced a connection and that is why it is running. If it happens again then repost and we can try to sort out your problem.

yea, it keeps happening. the car starts and runs fine for a while, then after running say 15 or 20 minutes itll just cut off. then when I go to crank it it wont start up until i let it sit there for about 20 minutes.

There are two items I would look at. First, check the ignition module. You didn't say what year this is so I will assume that it has a distributerless ignition. If so the module is under the coils. If it has a distributer then the module is inside. Also make sure to check all grounds. If it does not have a distributer then change the crank position sensor located to the side of the timing cover on the front of the engine. Also, what year is this car?

Its a 87. Its interesting that you mention the grounds because I noticed something today. It cut off on me again, and I tried cranking it back up about 4 or 5 times and it wouldnt turn back on. so I got my spark tester and was going to see if it was getting spark (to determine if it was an ignition related issue), and I hooked the spark tester up, and the car turned on like nothing was wrong with it. the spark tester is the kind that you hook up to a ground, and then hook the other end up to a spark plug wire. does this mean anything?

this is the 2nd time its done that too. the last time it wouldnt crank, and i checked the fuel pressure, it was fine, then when i plugged the spark tester up to check for spark, the car started right up.

Based on your description I would do a check on every ground I could find. Start at the battery terminal and work your way around. The block ground is extremely important as well as the ignition ground. Could be just some rust that has gotten under one of the ground wires and is causing the problem. Also check the ground to the ECM.

the firs thing you said you would look at was right GTP, it turned out to be the ignition control module. It must have just been a coincidence that it would work when I used the spark tester, i dont know, but i replaced the module and it hasnt done it since. thanks for all your help.