Confused and frustrated

1998 Chevy Blazer ZR2 75,000 miles. OK I had some issues and codes that came up and fixed those issues. So far replaced the fuel pump, and EGR vavle. I have not had my SES light come on since, she is running a lot better, I also ran a can of sea form through to clean things up. Since then my heater core went out and cannt afford to fix it so I looped the 2 hoses together. I still have 2 things that I do not know the cause. Like I said she is running better but at times I can still feel her kinds struggle and surge, like when the EGR vavle was malfuncting but not nearly as bad, but enough to notice, I can kinda smell hot exhust? And another thing she is a 5 speed and sometimes she will not start, no noise at al, l I have to push in the clucth pedal in at least twice and kinda hard and then she will turn over. IDEAS before I shoot her?