'88 s10 popping sound front while in place

okay, perhaps because im not used to searching through forums im unable to find this questuion already answered...but here it goes:
i own simple '89 s10 work commuter, standard, 2wd, so far with many little ailings (door problem and such) but nothing major. untill recently that is; it started developing two days ago (on a perticulary cold morning) a popping sound, inconsistent (as if someone was making popcorn) in the front passanger side part of the truck. it does this while parked, while starting or driving. i cant exactly locate the sound, and the belt seems recently replaced. at first i thought something was loose, but everything seems to be okay. its relatively loud ratteling (with occas. pops). otherwise truck drives the same, idles same...any thoughts?
thanks in advance.

Have you checked to make sure nothing has built a nest in you fan box? I 've seen cases where mice have built nests and the crap ratlles around and gets stuck in the fan.

thanks for the reply. unfortuntely nothing such. this ratteling im refering to has been going on for few days now, and its pretty loud. it sounds like coming from my airbox, or throttle body, somewhere there; i first thought, my airbox being rusted that it was the filter hitting on the sides, but it isnt, this sounds more mechanical and much louder.
also i noticed that my first spurg plug wire shakes and if i hold it i can feel irregular knocking, albeit if i push down it disappears.
again, thanks for the consideration.

a popping sound, inconsistent (as if someone was making popcorn)


also i noticed that my first spurg plug wire shakes and if i hold it i can feel irregular knocking, albeit if i push down it disappears.


Just a few guesses:

Maybe the plug wire is arcing to something. That would sorta sound like popcorn. Try looking under the hood at night with no lights and watch for an arc.

If you are pushing down on the plug wire at the distributor (not the spark plug) it could be the rotor hitting one or more of the terminal post on the distributor cap.

James

well, oddly enough i havent looked into something simple as this..untill now.
after slipping my belt off i realized that my alternator bearings are worn.
that was the rattle with the pop. luckly i didnt find out the hard way.
thanks again.
should be simple and straight forward from this point on.