Fuel Problems...?

[wrenchbreaker]

Recently my motor has started this random rough idle after getting on the freeway, after about 5-10 minutes of driving over 50 mph. The motor begins this rough idle and then looses power to where I have to pull off to the side. At an idle it's still way rough, shaking the truck. After sitting for about 15-30 minutes I hit an exit and drive about 25-35 mph and shortly thereafter goes back to normal.
Yesterday, it started again...Thinking maybe the cat. coverter was clogged, so I cut it off...Ran fine ( just could hear the torbo whistle now). Later, I had to park on a steep incline facing downhill. When I came back about an hour later, I noticed a stream of fuel running down the hill, dripping off the lower center pully. I couldn't see where else it was leaking from, but still ran fine after that, (about an hour more of driving, never went over 45 mph).
Today, drove about 15 minutes and heard a strange metal grind from the motor, and then again about 10 minutes later. Came home, popped the hood, oil is fine but a little white smoke coming from the dip stick (while idling). I ran it for about 5 minutes at about 1500 rpm, seems fine. While parked flat, just a very slow drip of fuel, right in front of the axle, about 4 inches right of center ( almost hard to notice). Engine valley is dry.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated...Thanks guys!!

[CoalRollinRoosterCruiser]

how bout some info on the truck? Year, motor, mods, etc. etc.

[wrenchbreaker]

Sorry, got a little anxious...It's a 1997, f350, 4x4, 7.3 L, fully stock minus the cat. converter that I just removed
-Thank's Frank

[REDPOWERSMOKER]

CHECK YOU DRAIN VALVE ON YOUR FUEL BOWL IVE SEEN HOSES ATACHED TO THEM SO THEY DONT DRAIN INTO THE VALLEY

[CoalRollinRoosterCruiser]

also, when was the last time you changed your fuel filter?

[wrenchbreaker]

Yea, I've got a hose on mine, and it's dry...

[wrenchbreaker]

Fuel filter changed about two months ago...

[wrenchbreaker]

I guess one of my main concerns would be the grind that occur twice today within about 20 minutes... They were too short to tell much, but confident it will occur again...Would any of these symptoms suggest a bearing going bad somewhere?

[SMKSTAX]

Do you have a 5 speed or automatic?

[wrenchbreaker]

it's an auto