well filled up today to check the numbers again after the spark plug/wire switch, i now get 16.5 miles/gallon. what is the next area to check?

How do you drive and is it freezing there, is it all city or all highway or mixed?

i drive normal, no WOT and whatnot.

temperature has been 30-50*F.

mostly highway.

For those conditions, you're about 10mpg low, even with winter blend.

You should be able to pull 28-32 highway on long trips. 25 is reasonable for 'mostly highway' driving.

something is definitely off. i get 18-19 almost all city.

I get about 24-25 with city/highway mixed driving in the winter. The same route in the summer gets about 28. I have been thinking mine was a little low. You are definitely extremely low. I am no expert but I would check plugs/wires/O2 sensor.

Those are the first thing on the hit list.

How old are your plugs, wires, and O2, and what brand are they?

everything i would imagine is original, i will get out and check later tonight, working on the kitchen tile currently.

EDIT: where is my O2 located?

The O2 you're lookin for is on top of the rear exhaust manifold.

This is on a 97, but should be close to the same. It'* right in the center of the picture, the silver thing sticking out of the red manifold. This is the rear one near the firewall.