Cranking and strange shimmy?
 

I but an '89 TII motor in my car. The cold start and emissons have been removed but I don't think that is what is causing the cranking problem. Everytime I crank the car it floods and it won't actually stay idleing until the 6th or 7th time I try to crank it. When I first start cranking it, the car just idles up and dies. Finally when I can get it to idle, I have to give it gas but I can't just hold the throttle. When I hold the throttle at a steady rpm, the car just backfires and tries to die, so I have to just tap the throttle. Once I have done that for 30 seconds or so the car will idle on its own but high around 1500 rpm. I can watch the boost gauge and everytime I hold the throttle and it comes out of vacuum is when it backfires. Also, in 4th and 5th gear under about 2500 rpm the car seems to shimmy and the boost gauge actually flutters. I' m not sure what can cause this. It only does it in those 2 gears and once above those rpms it doesnt do it any longer. Maybe a little help? I have tried to think of everything.

Check for vacuum leaks, make sure your TPS is in spec, and check your compression just to know how your motor is doing. If you have low compression it could cause the trouble starting among other issues.

The compression is good. How would I check the TPS?

This is how the car acts once it cranks but still hasn't started idleing on its own yet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JKcxqxg6gk