Sputterin problem

[hooter]

red top SR20DET in 1991 S13. Intake, exhaust, dp, test pipe is pretty much all i have for mods. Running stock boost.

Today as I was driving home from work, my car started sputtering. I would push on the gas, but no speed. Motor felt like it was about to die and when I pulled over, it eventually did. I traced it back to a leak in the fule system. THe hose clamps that connects the hoses that go to the fuel filter were loose and one of the hoses had a crack in it big enough to let gas seep. I tightened the clamps and replaced the defective hose.

Later today, after I had fixed everything, I was taking my car for a drive. Suddenly, same symptoms. The car felt like it was gonna die and pushing on the gas pedal didn't do anything. Popped the hood and checked all my connections but nothing wrong. No leaks, no vacuum hosese pinched or cracked, nothing. Cranked the car a couple times but the car would die on its own. After about 10 minutes, I got the car started again but the car ran like crap. Engine vibrated like crazy, there was this weird ticking sound coming from the valve cover near the passenger side rear. The car idled very lumpy, like I had a set of wild cams. Thick black soot came out of the exhaust.

Car sat for a couple of hours. Fired it up and it idles fine. No traces of anything wrong.

Question is, whats wrong? I am half tempted to pop open valve cover and see if I can find out what was ticking under there. Also, I know that my injectors were running with very little or no fuel for a short while.. Could this harm them?

Where cna I get a valve cover gasket for the red top SR20DET? Is it the same as the USDM SR20DE valve cover gasket?

Thanks for any and all input.

-Charlie