Thanks for all your help Ted, I really appreciate it. Yeah, the popping noise in the intake is exactly whats happening. When I take the accelerator from idle to full throttle it makes that sucking/popping noise.

I think you're right in needing to take it to an actual mechanic. That's not as easy as it sounds in Currituck/Outer Banks NC. I've talked to a few of the honest ones around here and either they don't have time or aren't really interested b/c I have done most of the work. I don't neccessarely need them to fix it, I just need to rule some things out.

What other problems could be caused by the engine running like this?