Hey Ray, Sorry I didn't know about where you lived or I would have for sure given you a shout & stopped by on my way home! It would have been cool and I would have brought my tools!
Now on to the business:
Did you change the fuel filter and then do a fuel pressure test following the Helms manual? If not, swap out the filter...autoZone has them...and do a pressure test. I can't say for sure that is the root cause but the FF is easy to change. Oh, you do have the Helms manual, right?? If you have access to a scan tool it would be good to do a reading with the motor running in "open loop" and "closed loop"...I kind of learned how to interpret that data when I needed new injectors.
Stupid Q...does the car miss as soon as you start it or does it take a few minutes before the miss becomes evident and does it get worse the longer it runs???
The "noise" from the trans/clutch thing...when you step on the clutch you hear the noise? If yes and you pop it to the neutral gate and let off the clutch you still hear the noise?? Usually the T/O bearing makes noise only when the clutch is depressed and usually the noise quiets &/or leaves when you are off of the clutch, either in gear & moving or in neutral.
Don't feel bad about this...I have a theory about low mile virgins, like yours & mine...the worst thing is for these cars to sit and then be used...it causes more problems than if you just use them every chance ya get...screw the milage! My car came to me w/8,000 miles on it and I had clutch hyd. system problems after I drove the son of a biach to BG & back. I swear the car thinks I'm a slave driver!
Look man here's my digits...914-663-1201...use'em if ya need to...feel free...you are not alone in this and we are a tight group, we don't leave any one behind!
Tom
I think the noise you are hearing from the tranny/clutch with the pedel up is the dual mass fly wheel...especially with a miss, it sounds real swell!