88 volvo 240 starts most of the time but dies when i push gas

Wow. any number of things. Clogged fuel filter? Fuel pump relay. Try getting in the car when it's quiet around you. Turn the key to "on", not start. You should hear the fuel pumps hum for a few seconds and then stop. If you don't hear them, check your fuse box. They are labeled but I believe #6 is usually the main fuel pump fuse. If fuses are good, then it could be your fuel pump relay. These typically develop cracks in the solder and when they warm up, break contact and theengine dies. The relay is accessed by removing the 7 screws that hold your glovebox in. Slide it out as a unit. Remove the glove box bulb if you're going to be at it any great length of time or your battery will die. The relay is a white rectangular box clipped to a metal frame on the left of the now exposed innards. It has like 6-8 pins. Thump it a couple of times and see if the car will start. If it does, replacethe relay. Order online as much cheaper than dealership.
If you do hear the pumps cycle when you turn the key to on, then most likely you have a bad ignition module. Your '88 has LH2.2 so there is no crank sensor to go bad. The ignition module is mounted to the driver's side under hood by air cleaner. Small flat black rectangle w/ silver metal base.
If all this is Greek to you, try a Volvo specific forum like swedespeed.com