What could be the problem

I was headed to work this evening in my 5.0 when the car either backfired or misfired 3 times as if somebody was shooting a shotgun under my car, then all of a sudden my car just died. I tried to start it back up but the motor only turned over. Take in mind the last time this happen my oil pump shaft had broken as well as the gear on my distributor. Do you think the same thing has happened again, if so what is the cause. After changing out the last oil pump, whenever I was on an incline at a traffic light my oil pressure gauge would drop and go back to normal once I start back riding. Also when it sits up for a while for example overnight, the next morning when I crank it up I hear this rattling noise my oil pressure hasnt registered but after a few second the noise dissappear and the pressure registers. After giving you this info what can you come up with.

I went to the local Autozone today before this incident happened to get one but they were out and told me to come back in the morning. I replaced my wires over the weekend because I found one of them laying on my exhaust and had been badly damaged. After that all that popping and surging stopped. Hopefully my scanner will be there in the morning when I am headed back home from work.

No I didnt. One other question? Whenever I ran it against somebody after the race my lifters would start ticking. Would that be something associated with whats going on. Take in mind I am new to this world. Normally I would take it to somebody but as the saying goes " I am tired of people telling me its raining but in reality they are pissing in my face". So thats why I am here.