No power in my metro.......need help

hello, I am new here and I have a problem I need help with.

I just recently bought a 91 metro 4 door hatchback. It has the 1.0 liter 3 cylinder engine. Here is my problem.

Sometimes it won't start, or it is hard to start. Once it is started, it sounds like it is struggling to remain started. If I shift it into neutral it idles a little higher but not much. If I put it into reverse, it usually stalls just after I start backing up. Sometimes it won't start back up. About half the time this happens, I smell fuel(like it is flooded or something). Once I do get going in drive, I usually have to have one foot on the gas and one on the brake to keep it running. Also, from a stoplight or stop sign, it feels sluggish and has no acceleration. If I have to go up a hill, I am lucky if I get above 15 mph.

Now....The guy I got the car from said he 'played' with the idle and timing to keep it running. Also, since getting the car, I have done the following.

Changed air filter.
Regapped the plugs.
Oil flush/Oil change.
replaced the PCV valve(which looked like it was clogged with black gook).

I am replacing the sparkplugs and wires tomarrow. What else could/should I do to fix this problem?

Thanks for any advice in advanced.

Zivon23

Before you go putting too much money into it. Run a compression test. Sounds like you may have a dead cylinder. Usually caused by a burnt exhaust valve. Not a real expensive fix, but it is a pain to do. Gotta replace the head, or have it rebuilt with a new valve, or valves. Let us know the compression you get in each cylinder.

thanks geo...I will look into that asap.

done a few valve jobs on geos, found that about 3/4 of the time when you put a rebuilt head on the engine it will start burning oil. with low mile replacement motors so cheap its only about $100 more just to replace the whole motor. might do fine with new head but if it doesn't you still have to replace motor

She already blows white smoke from time to time.....I only really notice it if I am in park and revving the engine. whe she is in drive I don't see any conciderable exaust at all. does this help in the diagnosis?