Chevy Spectrum

We have a 1988 Chevy Spectrum. Driving down the freeway at 80mph and all of a sudden no power. Towed her home and cleaned the carburator w/ carb cleaner and bought new air filter (very dirty and way overdue). Car reacts well to carb cleaner, but when we try to put the air filter or ever just the air filter cover on it acts like we are choking off it's fuel supply. Any Ideas? We have owned the car for almost 7 years and it has run like a top 95% of the time.