Well when a get to the end of the gear it doesnt seen to get a full rev it is dieing down and popping

Fuel gauge stuck in positition

Could be the transmission.Make sure it is full of fluid. Hold your foot on the brake and give it some gas with the other foot. If you feel a miss, then it is a miss fire.

ive seen transmissions cause this in high-end luxery cars... but that being said..

-sounds like your fuel filter is clogged. (i just shake mine out and run carb cleaner in it, which i do every 15,000 miles)
-could also be fuel pump
-loose battery terminal
-bad alternator
-clogged MAF sensor

Sounds like it's low on transmission fluid.

im having the same prob it ticks over fine in neutral but at lights standing still in 1st gear she just wont hold on n dies! So today she's in for full service will report back on spark plug solution! but i think the clutch plates are worn down allowing it to slip out of life!

my sunfire is automatic, and the gear shifter is VERY LOOSE, doesnt catch in any of the drive options. just slides up & down, with no pressure

There is an arm that runs from the governor arm to the carb. There should be a long spring on this to even out the revs. If that has come off it can cause similar problems. If you have checked/reset the governor arm on the pinion that comes out of the crank housing and the spring is in place I would think the only other problem is the actuator that operates the governor arm pinion internally. It is a strip down job to check it, but there is a (plastic?) cog that runs of a gear on the side of the crank shaft. This has a weighted pusher that moves with engine speed to move the governor arm. I have seen a couple of engines where there is wear and the weights have popped over the 'top hat' pusher stopping it moving freely and causing full revs. If you're not confident in stripping the crank casing down (you can leave the piston and crank in place to check the governor mechanism) then you should definately take it to a dealer or experienced technician.http://www.honda-engines-eu.com/engines/PartSelection.jsp?model=GX390K1&type=BJ&npl=10ZF601%20&lang=EN
Position 9 is the governor assembly.

hi buddy strip the cylinder off and inspect the small end bearing which part is moving up and down the conrod or piston and get back to me bud

your tranny is going out. VERY common with the 8 cylinders. Have seen it many many times. You should still be able to drive it for a year or so before it goes completely.
When it revs up just let off the gas til the rpm's go down, and then slowly give gas again.

timing chain