We have been trying to track down the cause of a problem with the IROC-Z ('89) What happens is; *sometimes* when you crank it, it will start and then immediately stall. Sometimes it's worse and it will take about 5 times until it runs, sometimes it doesn't do it at all. *Sometimes* after I have been driving a while and I hit the gas pretty good it will lose power and studder and if I am going slow, it will usually stall. So far, we have replaced and set the TPS, and the MAF sensor.(which has decreased the frequency of the problem dramatically but not completely.) Next up is distributor cap and rotor, spark plugs and wires, and I haven't decided if I am going to try servicing the IAC or just replace it all together.

So the point of the post is this:
Tonight when we were changing the spark plugs, one was loose. Thought it was strange and I am wondering what would cause it to come loose and could that cause any of my symptoms? TIA.

 

a loose spark plug will not make it stall "sometimes" or hard to crank. Go to a V8 that is in good running order, disconnect 1 plug wire and fire er up.

now, to your issue

have you verified the fuel delivery is in order?

your car will run with the maf disconnected. It will run rich but it will run.

Personally, I've had 1 MAF go bad on me and it was on the 95 LT1 Z and that was helped along to failure by an aggressive 16 year old wrenching when dad wasn't watching.. I'm not saying that they don't go bad, but I presently own 6 vehicles and have owned many since MAF's have been introduced.

you did not even mention replacing the fuel filter which is a standard maintenance item. And, if you like to run your tank to under 1/4 it's good practice to replace the filter with greater regularity.

 

Sorry, we did replace all the fuel injectors, the fuel sending unit, the fuel pump, and fuel filter, in early March when we bought it. The car has been having this issue the whole time. The car has never got down below a quarter tank since we owned it, so I'm sure the fuel filter that's on there is fine. I am not sure how the MAF went bad but it was def bad when we bought the car.
Made this post when I was half asleep last night, forgot some details.