Timing chain... snapped?

My friend has an 86 firebird 2.8L fuel injection... The car has a minor gas leak and when he makes a sudden break the engine dies... after the engine dies if he has room to roll he pops the clutch in usually 3rd gear but his transmission is screwy and he accidently popped it into first... engine started for about a second... died.. and wont start since...
Engine cranks over just fine (but sounds like something is slapping the oil pan or timing cover)... Has decent spark... has fuel and air....
The car will crank over and will pop and crackle a little.. occosionally shotts a bit of flame out the throttle...

I'm thinking the timing chain might have snapped. That theory just makes sense to me. But since I'm still learning I figure its best to ask before we go tearing it apart.
thanks
weylin

The chain won't be broken, but it sounds like it jumped a cog or two,that would explain the noise and intermittent firing. With any luck, a timing set will fix it, if the timing didn't get far enough out to smack some valves into the pistons.

Jumped time I'd guess, and I believe there are two plastic guides in there, one solid mounted to a backing plate and one on the spring tensioner, they will be worn bad or gone all together, replace them all.

also, gear teeth may be plastic