Unplugging the coolant temp sensor defaults to -40 degrees, I believe? At the very least it will throw it into open loop, but also richen it up just based on what it thinks the temp is. Doesn't necessarily mean the sensor is bad. Running richer, or just being in open loop, could be masking something else. Skewed O2 sensor pushing it lean? Something still wrong with the timing that is masked when its richer (CTS unplugged)? Do you have access to a scan tool that will read data from this ancient stuff?
In a previous post, when you unplugged the coolant temp sensor, it didn't change anything. When it is running, make sure both injectors are firing. Sometimes those connections get splayed and make bad/intermittent contact. Could be firing on 1 injector intermittently or something.
As someone else mentioned, you could have bad NEW parts as well. Victims of shoddy aftermarket quality when there is no other alternative for us.