1973_442

hi, im having a problem figuring this out, when i try to start my car it backfires and has white smoke coming out of the carb. what could cause this?

J-(Chicago)

Distributor is in 180 degrees off?

2blu442

Did you change your plug wires and possibly used the wrong rotation? Clockwise or counterclockwise for the firing order?

Olds64

A little bit more info would be good. Did you just do anything to the car? Have you set your timing recently? Do you have any aftermarket parts on it like a hot cam or carburetor?

1973_442

yeah i just replaced the spark plugs and wires, and i also got an hei rebuild kit, with rotor, cap, condensor, coil, ignition module. no i havent set the timing. its got a douple pumper carb, but ive never had a problem with it before, its been on the car since i bought it. also i cant find a wiring diagram for spark plug wires to an hei, i replaced them one at a time but i just want to double check, my chiltons only has diagrams for conventional distributors. any one know of any? its a 1973 442 with a 350 (sorry, i posted this in the small block forum but it ended up here somehow)

2blu442

Check the plug wire order and rotation on the distributor. I'm speaking from experience, I have put the plug wires on in the wrong rotation! The firing order should be 18436572 and is cast into the intake manifold. Then on the distributor it should go in a counterclockwise rotation. You can have the right order, but if they're put on the distributor cap in the opposite rotation you'll get all kinds of backfiring out the carb and exhaust! John

Olds64

I think John hit the nail on the head. Especially since you just put in a new distributor. Let us know what happens once you double check everything and make some adjustments.

1973_442

i rewired it and the car tried to start, had a backfire, but didnt smoke out of the carb! it sounded right though when it tried to start. its just that the air adjusment screw seems to have disappeared from my carbuerator...
but anyways thank you!