I had the EXACT same symptoms as you are describing when I broke a valvespring, so check under the valve covers!

 

Thanks! Sounds like it might be a good time to do those 1.6 rockers if that's the case then. I'll check it out tonight and post back here.

 

Valve covers off and no help. Springs are fine, pushrods look good. With #3 at TDC the rockers could be wiggled and the pushrosa could be spun. I noticed this with several of the valves though. Anymore ideas?????

 

hmm I really thought it was a broken spring with the shaking and popping, thats what my car did maybe a bad/broken lifter thats not pumping up and therefore not opens an exhaust valve? I dunno just throwing it out there..

 

It ended up being my distributer. I took it to 2 shops, the first one didn't know, and the second said maybe the distributer. The inside of it looked clean, no carbon traces or anything. Not sure why, but it works now.