[All1k4t]

I just got this car a few months ago from a guy who was intending to fix it up, he had a few other cars that were more of a priority and decided to sell it. I bought it and we got it to run at first to get it on the trailer as it is not road worthy yet. A month ago we started the car up after replacing the oil filter and exhaust. It ran fine, quite loud and a little bumpy but it drove. It doesn't have a ignition switch as we are using a screwdriver as a key right now, (the guy we bought it from bent the end of a flat head to fit it like a key to the ignition switch) but it seemed to be working fine.

We went to test drive it and all went well until I accidentally dropped the clutch then it died. It was cold that day, and ever since then it's been really cold out. I have read that there might be a cold start, but I might have read that wrong. It will just start for a second when I give it some gas, then when it dies it smells like somethings burning inside the car but not outside of it. I just can't figure out what the problem is. It has been bottomed out a couple of times and when you start the car there is a lot of space and the engine shakes pretty bad.

Could anyone help me out by any chance at all?

 

[EdT]

What is really cold?

You shouldn't touch the gas pedal unless it's seriously below freezing.

Given that this car was a project and sat for a while, I would start by checking and lubricating the idle air control (IAC). You would have to pull the plenum that sits behind the oil filler.

Also keep in mind that everything after the MAF, which is on the right side in the picture just behind the air filter, needs to be properly sealed with no leaks, or the car won't run right.

I doubt your clutch drop was the main cause of your issues, although it may have shaken something loose.

For that matter, the gas may be bad. How long did the car sit?

 

[All1k4t]

Just where I live is really cold.
With us just lightly pressing on the gas pedal thats how we got it to start in the first place.
I have no idea how long it has sat.

 

[EdT]

What temperatures are we talking about?

A properly working 2.3 will start with no fuss down to maybe 0º F. Touching the gas pedal is not required.

If it really is that cold right now, I'd suggest leaving the car until it gets warmer. It probably need various things to be cleaned or fixed. Hopefully it runs better in warmer weather and then you can also work on it more easily.