UPDATE
i may have solved the problem, after just ignoring it the last few years, lol
is the attached pic the boost gauge sensor?
i found the hose had split at the end where it was connected to the sensor
so i cut the tip of the hose off, and reconnected it
before this, the boost gauge would read ~ 0 whether you were idling or giving it stick
now, it is reading almost -7 @ idle, and between half and +7 on boost
that seems better, right???
i also changed oil, oil filter, fuel filter, O2 sensor and air filter at the same time
seems to be running good now.
could that leaky hose have caused the problems described above (i.e. no boost)?
or was the car still boosting, and the gauge just not showing the right boost?
cheers all