Our 88 Chevy Nova (toyota corolla with a bowtie) has some SERIOUS engine issues. I drove it to a shop for my brother. It has NOOOO power (more then normal that is). When any reasonable throttle is applied, it sounded like marbles were banging around in it, and it was RPM dependant.

Is the 4A in there an interference motor? COuld it have slipped a tooth or something on the timing chain?

It'* around 145,000 miles. 5 speed, dying

How'* your ignition timing (set by the distributor)? Is it a bottom end knock? IIRC the 4A is not interference, but later high compression iterations of it in the GT-* Corollas might be. If your timing belt broke, motor wouldn't run at all no matter if intereference or not. Just the degree of damage (none with non-interference) differs.

Running lean?

I really can't be sure. The Toyota 4A is a simple motor, I'm sure plenty of the other guys here will chime in general problem spots causing this.

Yeah the thing is just so gone, brother said he saw slight smoke coming from it last time he drove it (1-2 miles).

You have a Timing BELT and not a timing chain. It should have been replaced at about 60,000 miles so it'* quite possible if this belt has never been replaced in 145,000 you would be lucky if it only slipped a notch. I'm not sure if you can see the alignment marks if you take off the timing belt cover. IF it'* just the belt that needs to be replaced, then you'll get your power back. Also, if you do replace the timing belt, also replace the water pump because it'* over due as well and cost effective.

Waterpump was done about 4 years ago IIRC. It seized and ate the belt.

Thanks for the info guys, I've just never dug into this engine before, or read anything about it. I'll let you know what'* up.

*coughBonnevillecough*