Popping in exhaust

[RustyRatRod]

Popping in the exhaust always always ALWAYS means a lean mixture. The trick is finding out what the cause is. Have you started the engine at night with the hood up? This will allow you to see any acring going on with the plugs and wires. you need to get down in there and look REAL close. Be careful of the fan since it needs to be dark. Might even get a spray bottle with water in it and spray the wires and plugs and cap just to piss it off and see if you can make it happen. Don't jump to the most expensive thing first just because some armchair techs tell you that. 99 times outta 100 it's always the cheapest thing that goes out. Always start with the simple cheap stuff first.

 

[friesza]

Many years ago when I was still very green...I installed an accell distributor and supercoil....and all I got was popping from the exhaust...the more I revved the more it popped...come to find out between the coil and distributor needed a ballast resistor...voila it quit popping and drove great...everyone was telling me burnt or bent valve on an engine with less than 1000 miles....it was electrical....hope this helps a little

 

[71b5duster]

I had a problem recently with a 440 popping through the exhaust It ended up being a broken valve spring. Thought it was a electrical problem. The comp cams valve springs were brand new. Still can't believe it because it ran great.

 

[norshorblufish]

I have to agree with Stroker Scamp start with the cheapest thing and go from there.
You may have a bad plug or wire. Don't forget to check the distributor cap for cracks and the electrodes for corrosion on them.

norshor

 

[MyBlueCuda]

Definitely agree. Start with the simple checks first. I was a driveability specialist for 30 years and it's usually the littlest things wrong.
Check for vacuum leaks. Especially for any bad vacum hoses attached to the intake runners of cylinders exiting out of the left exhaust. Check the pcv valve. If you have power brakes check the booster for leakage. Also check the idle mixture screw settings. Simple visual checks may find the problem. If not any of these do a compression test. This will show up a burnt valve. Check how the plugs are burning. This could clue you in as to which cylinder is the problem. Champion makes a poster that shows you how various plugs look when there is a problem. Also make sure you have the right heat range plug in it. It's just my personal opinion but if you are running Bosch plugs throw them in the trash. Just have had too many bad experiences with them. If you can find a shop that still uses a scope it helps to find bad plug wires and you can see if the coil and plugs are firing correctly. Also look inside the distributor cap for tracking lines. Also this may sound crazy but if the dist. cap is gray plastic throw it out. They have an affinity to moisture and cause problems.
Basically popping is a lean burning problem with the gas mixture.
Good luck on your hunt!