hi all im getting this crackling noise from the front end of my 97 expy EB can anyone tell me what it is , it seems as tho it wants to bind up but just continues crackling. thanks

 

Sounds like the idler pulley bearing or the belt tensioner pulley bearing. Remove the belt and spin each pulley and it should be obvious which one is the problem one.

 

It could also be a broken timing chain tensioner allowing the timing chain to slap the inside of the timing cover. Assuming this noise is coming from the front of the engine and not the suspension or something else.

If the noise is coming from engine, take the large accessory belt(fan belt) off and run the motor to see if the noise disappears. If it does the problem is with one of the accessories. If it does not you might have your work cut out for you with the timing chains or something else internal in the engine.