Wanted to say thanks to everybody that gave me advice on fixing my dad's sidekick.  Turns out the ignition timing had apparently been timed to cylinder 1 instead of cylinder 4 by the guy that replaced the water pump about 6 months or so ago.  As a result timing was retarded (in every sense of the word) to about 15 degrees ATDC.  Re-timed it to around 11.5 degrees BTDC and it's like a whole new engine.  Runs like my tracker now. 

Anyway, thanks again.