Unplugged 02 sensor, car didn't backfire anymore but did still have the sluggish and shaking.

Dad suggested cat going out??

Hoping for a dry day so I can get underneath and spray down EVAP and such and try to narrow this sucker down!!

Does this sound like a good test to try? :
"we might want to begin by unplugging the sparkplug wires and then reconnecting them one at a time to determine if one cylinder is causing the problem or if maybe the misfire goes to all the cylinders.

If all the cylinders misfire, we might suspect a common problem such as the EGR valve or even bad gasoline (water).

If the misfire belongs to one cylinder, we could suspect the ignition, fuel injector, or maybe the valves.

What do you think? Can you do the unplugging test and let me know what you find.

Remember, when you find the cylinder that is misfiring, the engine shaking will not change. But when you disconnect a working cylinder, the engine will shake even more."

BTW I'll be posting a picture tomorrow...but there'* a slight gap it looks like where throttle body meets engine...noticed it today.

Your gonna know if you have any bad plug wires before you can even get em unhooked cuz its will shock you id say unplugging injectors would be safer..Then if you find a misfiring cylinder you can investigate that injector/plug and wire

This is throttle body meets engine.

See the "thick black line" between the two? That'* actually a slight gap it looks like...when running, it doesnt feel as if any air is coming out, and spraying fluid there doesn't change the idle. so is that an issue??

Nope, not an issue. There is a large gasket that is inbetween the TB and the intake which creates that gap. Totally normal. And you wouldn't feel air coming out of it, but air going in, which would cause issues. I see the vac. line fittings are starting to crack that attach to the TB. May want to spray those as well and make sure they aren't leaking vacuum, as one of them should feed the fuel pressure regulator and the other the part of the EVAP system IIRC.

Is that "gap" only there? I aks because all around the rest of the TB it'* a tight seal where it meets and right there is that gap.

As long as the idle didn't change when you sprayed around that then it should be ok. If you want, give the 4 bolts holding the TB to the UIM a turn with a wrench and see if they are loose. Keep in mind they don't need a lot of torque to break off so be careful!!

Exactly, it'* 89 inch pounds, that'* inch pounds, not foot pound.

Thanks, Danthurs I knew it was low just couldn't remember exactly.

Or approx. 7.4 ft. lbs or 10 Newton Meters, depending on how many different types of torque wrenches you have at your disposal. After doing 3 UIM'* having an in/lb wrench is essential.