[Superman]

Yes, a lean mixture will cause intake popping. A quick check is to remove the air cleaner and press upward on the air flow sensor plate. If that causes the engine to idle smoother, you may simply have a lean mixture.

But a lean mixture can also be caused by vacuum leaks. I'd say that after a rebuild, if you did not mess with the mixture screw, the chances of assembling the engine with something like a vacuum leak are greater than your chances that the engine somehow needs a different mixture. Probably, the mixture setting is still correct, or very close.