My buddy has an 88 IROC and it has been running funny lately. Sometimes when he starts it it wont idle very well, and if you floor it it wont pass 1000rpm, and dies frequently. It has been running hot lately, and is losing coolant. He took it to a mechanic, and they couldn't find anything more than a clogged fuel filter. I'm beginning to think it might be a head gasket, or the fuel pump. Anyone have any clues?

 

My Z28 had a similar issue. The problem was the catalytic conververter as far as rpms and dying go, a small crack in the radiator and the water pump was responsible for the coolant issue

 

He doesnt have a cat anymore.

 

I hate to sound like a broken record, but water in the gas tank will do that, I had this happen to me on vacation. I filled up somewhere with gas contminated with water and it would buck and shudder and then smooth out and run great, then act up again. If I floored it it would slow down...

 

This has been going on for about 8 months. Its not water in the gas tank.

 

If you don't get it out it will just accumulate and get worse over time. I ran my car bone dry until it stalled, and still removed over 2 quarts of water from the tank. It had been acting up for 2 months, and finally got so bad I dropped the tank..
DO NOT ADD "RUBBING ALCOHOL" to the fuel tank either, it's 30% water. My buddy found out the hard way, cheaper alcohol wasn't cheaper..