85 rex.......im on the verge of putting her to sleep x(

well.......ill start with the fact that i bought a $500 85 si. ive had problems with it since i had it for the first 20 mins.......ive blown out brake lines on the turnpike, the tranny blew on me, replaced the axles, and then the head gasket blew.all of these have been replaced using my friends crx that he wrecked. this all happened within the first six months. i just finished putting on the new head gasket, intake manifold gasket,header gasket, new timing belt and alternator belt.......not to mension that the medusas head worth of vac lines were all put back into their original positions. in theory it should run correctly, right?
unfortunatly this is not the case. the ecu is now reading bad vac to the map sensor, which is a line that i havnt touched at all. the car refuses to start. it kicks as if it is going to but alas, it does not. i do know that i need a new idle air control valve. does any one know if the IAC would cause it not to start even if ive got my foot on the gas? and as for the map sensor, there is not vaccuum in the lines from the charcoal canister to the map sensor. any suggestions on what i can do the remedy my situation?is there a way i can clean the cannister or do somethin to get the vac back into that line?
oh, i forgot to mention, that if the car does start it pops and putters, and the only way for it to stay on if if the pedal is mashed to the floor in which case it only goes up to 2,000 rpm until the pgmfi light goes on, then she dies.
also what is the cannister? my patience with this car is growing short, and id hate to get rid of her. ive been workin on it for six months or so and id hate to see all the work being in vain. if anybody needs any sound clips or video or anything like that to help, it is obtainable.......so in short...........
I NEED YOUR HELP!!!!THANKS