1988 -- Delta98 -- Coughs/Cuts out/no one can figure out

Okay. This vehicle has 32,000 miles on it only. It was a nice car...now it is the bane of my existence.

For over a year this has been going on and no repair guy seems to be able to figure this out.

Car worked fine...started making a grinding noise...took it in... rack and pinion was replaced.

Started with the following symptoms about 8 months after that:

Shuts off when going under 20mph around a corner.

Under load or not under load (does not seem to matter)...suddenly loses power...That is, you will be going along fine on the highway when suddenly it is like the transmission disengages, engine revs...but is not getting faster.

When this happens, it is a matter of a few seconds the vehicle violently bucks, sputters, coughs and backfires then shuts off.

Took it in. The guy said it was the fuel lines. Those were replaced.

Two hours later I drive it...same symptoms stated above.

Took it back in. He says it's the mass air flow sensor. Replaced. Ten minutes later I drive it...same symptoms stated above.

Took it back in. They say it's the throttle positioning sensor. Replaced.
Drove great for two miles...same problem.

Took it back in. He says it must be the type of gasoline. He drains out all the gas, does whatever to the gas tank...fills it full of "good gas" and tells me to only get gas at this one gas station.

This time I drove about five miles before I had the same symptoms as stated above.

Took it back in. He says it's shutting off because the alternator is bad. Replaced.

Didn't even make it to my house (.9 miles away) before it started the same thing then backfired so badly it blew my muffler off.

Took it back in...he replaced the muffler and replaced something he called the air idle positioning sensor.

Same symptoms still persist as stated above.

TOOK TO DIFFERENT MECHANIC - this is 9 months of messing with this other guy...because most of his repairs took two weeks.

I explained everything to him about the problems with all these parts replaced and still same symptoms.

Few hours later he says the alternator is bad. Alternator was under warranty so I took that in the parts place and they said sure enough...a bad diode on it...so replaced the alternator yet again.

Then he says that there were some adjustments that he needed to make and did those...and says that he disengaged the torque converter.

Now. This is what I don't understand. I thought you needed a torque converter...he actually says he like...shut it off. ? Anyway. I'm not a mechanic.

He does all this and says he drove it 16 miles without a problem. I drive it back from his place...a good 8 mile drive and it goes fine... UNTIL.... I slow down in town to make turns and stop at signs.

Same symptoms as stated above...shudders, spits, pisses, shuts off... backfires, hesitates...step on gas and it goes slower and slower until it finally shudders, backfires and shuts off.

So now... this car is going back next week to this guy...who ... when I said the problems still persist says, "WHAT THE F____?!"

There are probably some parts that have been replaced that I have forgotten to mention. All I know is I'm going broke with this damn thing and it won't run well long enough to get rid of it....and under my hood is starting to look all brand new.

Any ideas?

I personally keep telling everyone I think the computer is not working right...because it seems to me that is the only thing that hasn't been replaced.... but then again... I'm not a mechanic.