To start off this may not be the place to post this but I didn't know where else to turn. I'm thinking of getting rid of my 1991 Camaro RS. I need someone to convince me not to. I love this car but as of now its given me nothing but problems. I've had the car for about a year and since I only have my permit and with it never having run right I've only driven it a few times. Put maybe 200 miles on it. I paid $1000 for it and it needed some work but it seemed like nothing major so I bought it. I've put about a thousand into it including rims and tires. It surges really badly while idling, like a 3,000RPM difference, almost to the point of stalling out. When I'm driving its like a misfire and its very hard to accelerate. I've replaced the battery, starter, spark plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor, IAC Valve, thermostat, oil, probably a few more things that just aren't coming to mind right now. I'm starting to really like Japanese JDM cars and lowered mid 80's-90's Chevy Trucks. With the car never running right and it doesn't really look that good at the moment I'm starting to fall out of love but I think if I sell it I'll regret it. Convince me not to get rid of it. Also I apologize if everyone just thinks the post is stupid in general. This is a quick video of the idle issue.

 

You have some real issues here, but let me put at least part of this to bed for you- your factory tach is shot. You are NOT idling at 4000+ RPMs and you are NOT seeing 3000+ RPM surges. It's a well known issue with the factory gagues in these cars. There is a resistor that blows out on the circuit board and suddenly you're pegging the tach barely above idle. New gague cluster or have your old one repaired is the solution. If you're really nuts you can try to repair it yourself- I believe there is a Tech article about it.

Yes, you have some surging at idle. On TBI engines that's usually a vacuum leak. Typically a pretty big one somewhere. Like the PCV line having a big split in it somewhere. Check all your vacuum lines- spray a little carb cleaner at them if there's nothing obviously wrong and see if the idle smooths out for a second or two. If it does you've got a vacuum leak in the vicinity.

 

I would also check the intake and throttle body gaskets. Like damon said, check the pcv hose for a leak and also the brake booster vacuum hose. Those would be the biggest leaks that could cause this problem.

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/elec...meter-fix.html