S10 2.2 hesitation...HELP!

Ok here's the deal...

It's a 96 S-10 2.2 5sp. This only happens occassionally so its making it very hard to diagnose.

If I'm going down the road, and stop and then start back up, occassionally by the time i get to the end of 2nd or in 3rd gear, the truck starts to hesitate severely. I can have the gas pedal floored and not be over like 2500rpms. It almost acts like the engine is starving for air or fuel. Occassionally it will backfire through the intake as well. If I stay on the gas for anywhere from 10 seconds to a minute, it will eventually break loose and act normal. I've had this truck for about a month, and it's probably done it about half a dozen times.

The fuel filter looks brand new, the cat looks brand new, and the OBDII system is not throwing any codes at all. Fuel pressure is at around 45psi.

I'm not sure if anyone has done this before, but if you're working on a vehicle and put a rag in the intake to keep dust and whatnot from getting into the engine, crank it up and forget to take it out...that's the way it's hesitating.

Does anybody have any ideas? I'm scratching my head here...

PLEASE HELP!

anybody?

OH BTW.....this truck is bone stock....all original..nothing has been added or removed from the engine..

you have a dying fuel pump.

mine did the same thing it was the o2 sensor

scan it for codes

craig i am with russ!i know you said you checked your fuel pressure and said its good,but you gotta either have a bad cat conv or a bad fuel pump.take that shits to a dealership and pay the diag fee,if they cannot get it to act up on them they will more than likely not charge you,or tell you to bring it back when it acts up and wave the diag fee!or just drive to indiana and let us scan it here?

I guess I'll bite the bullet and try a fuel pump....if that's not it I guess it's going to the dealer...

do not TRY a fuel pump....always a bad decision!
get it checked out at a dealer,not your buddys uncles shop man!

i had a 1990 2.8l and it would hesitate, sputter, pop etc. when ever it felt like it and same thing here it wouldnt go over 2000-3000rpm i had replaced the started a few months earlier and finally broke down and brought it to the shop and it was the starter it was back feeding (internal short) and causing it to run rough (just a thought)