HELP! (V6 misfire)

[Joe Elliott <jee@domain.elided>]

Back in December, I posted about a strange problem I experienced with 
my '82 GTV6 where it ran very poorly (vibrating on acceleration, felt 
like it was running on <6 cylinders) the instantaneously went away 
after about five minutes.   This has happenned a couple of times 
since then, and over the last week it's been just about every cold 
start, but it clears up within a minute or two.  UNTIL TODAY.  It ran 
like this all the way to work (10 miles), AND BACK.  I'm very 
concerned that I'm going to destroy the engine if this is some kind 
of detonation.  I really don't know how to describe this noise and 
vibration verbally, and even worse, I'mm not sure I'd know the 
difference between running on 5 cylinders, and terminal detonation. 
Is it safe to drive an hour on the freeway to the nearest Alfa 
specialist?  Is this something my local foreign car mechanic can 
diagnose?  Do you have any idea what this might be from my 
description?  Where should I start troubleshooting?

Thanks,
Joe Elliott
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