Violent Popping Sound and Air Exiting the Intake

[shortnotice]

My 1996 E-350 was running great all day yesterday. I started it up later in the evening and drove it about a block when it started making an extremely loud popping noise, in time with the engine. If I accelerate, the pop quickens. I shut the van down, removed the air filter, had my buddy start the motor, and with every pop came a burst of air out of the intake.

Is one of my intake valves failing to seal? Could that be a bent rod? Any other ideas, and what to do?

I have never worked on a 7.3 head before, but maybe now is the time to learn.

Most important, is it safe to drive it 2 miles back to my shop?

[gmsmith36]

they have some push rod issues. could be a bent valve. poping through the intake you could have a broken exhaust push rod or a rocker arm failure.

[gmsmith36]

i would drive it very slow if at all. 2 miles would be a easy tow rope job.

[shortnotice]

Here's my problem...



Do you think I should just put a new push rod on and try and get a few more miles out of it, or get deeper into it?

[Rob]

ouch.... you could probably put it back together to see if it still makes any noise, does everything else look good??? if it were me i would dive a little deeper to check things out though. ne sense in making things worse..