1998 chevy cavalier z24 has a enclosed transmission. Car is starting to buck really bad and then it shuts down and have to restart the car. The speedometer is the first thing that stops moving before car starts to buck. Not sure if it is the tranny or something else
I am sure it's not the transmission. What you are describing is an electrical failure probably a bad ground. The best I can doo with out seeing the car.
I hope this helps.