I have an 88' automatic that idles really hard when I start her up, shakes and I can hear the tap clicking accessively. Whenever I try to put her into gear either Drive or Reverse theres a flux in the fuel, and my car revs a little then dies.I've started her in Neutral and shifted and while it turns over it wants to die and it has almost no power whatsoever. I press on the gas and it pretty much stays in first gear. Can this be caused by a fuel or oil filter problem? Cam Shaft having valves stuck or is my engine just succumbing to damage from somewhere else?

 

My buddy from school has an 88 2.3 5 speed and was having similar problems. He had to keep his foot on the gas slightly at all times or the car would just die. We determined the cars timing was off and easily fixed it by just turning the distributer. I can't garentee this is your problem but if you have a timing light you can easily check.