My 98 Dodge van 3.9 has been having ign problems. Driving at freeway speeds it shut off Then came back on with a loud backfire- like a gun shot and quit. Would still crank and try to start if I held the key on.. Would NOT hardly run sounded like 3 cyl guessing would not accept any RPM's Could I have blown the lower intake

 

Could have... Or you might get lucky and it just blow off a hose you cant see?

On the before all that..... Did you feel it surge before banged?
I would think if it did, the van might have developed an ignition problem during the drive?

3.9 Full size Van? Rite?

So we are not sure if it was a lean bang or an ignition bang at this point? Hummmm
Time for a fuel pressure check also, is my thinking....

 

I think It was an ign bang ? Was at a higher RPM when it happened I suspect the ign shut off and the injectors did not & it fired internally I don't know ? I guess i will have to remove the manifold

 

Lynn,
You might want to "Smoke" that before removing it... That will tell you if it is really leaking..
OR
Plug off all the breather and any other ports.... Put a vacuum gauge in the Dip Stick hole... if the gauge goes negative.... It sucked the gasket....
Then again those are not too hard to do if I remember Rite....