Ok, I really am at my wits end. I've posted a few times before on this subject; maybe someone in this thread may be able to help.

I have a 1985 camaro Z28, with a brand new crate GM Goodwrench 350.

I have tried many different variables; yet I still run into a wall.

I have had the car running before; it won't run now.

I recently put a mallory unilite on there for the dist.

I have also put an edelbrock performer 600 cfm *used* carb on.
I am guessing it may be the problem; maybe one of you will know.

I tried to start the car; it ran crappily with the unilite. It won't even run with the CC-HEI distributor that I put back on today; it fires a little. lol

I laugh, because It really did fire up; all the pine needles under the hood from me working on this car caught fire after a massive flame shot out of the carb. I am certain that the distributor is set correctly; it ran before with the same setting. I've also tried resetting the distributor by 180* so that is not the problem.

I'm thinking it might be the carbuerator; but why would the car run before and not run now? I've never had it running good with the edelbrock, but it ran O.K. with the Rochester Quad-jet.

I can't even get the damn car started now, it's been six months. Any input at all would help me, because I can't even get this damn car to fire. I just don't understand it, i've tried every variable possible to get the thing running.

 

For an engine to run, it needs air and fuel in the right mixture, compression, and spark delivered at the right time. You've talked a lot about what you have changed, but nothing about what you've done to verify you're getting the necessities.

Fire out of the carb is typically timing. I'd suspect you have a mismatch of harmonic damper and timing tab. The best way to determine that is to watch the piston through the #1 spark plug hole and get it up to top dead center. Then check to see if the timing mark is on the tab. I'll bet it won't be.

 

Also check the firing order if I remember right on a SBC it's 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. Another thing if thats a old and not new balencer alot of times the outter metal ring with the groove cut in it for telling the timing will be spun around on the hub with the rubber in it making the groove for telling the timing in the wrong spot I've seen it as much as 2" off. Also make sure when the #1 cylinder is on the compression stroke at TDC(top dead center) that the rotor is lined up with the #1 terminal on the cap. To tell if it's on the compression stroke wait till you feel air coming out of the spark plug hole or the best and way I prefer to do it. Is to pull the valve cover and make sure both the intake and exhaust valves are closed on the #1 cylinder.

 

You need to put a regular non-computer controlled distributor in to run with that carb. The fire out the carb probably means the timing is too far retarded. Advance it by turning the distributor counter clockwise and try and start the engine again. I had a nice flame thrower out of my carb when trying to start up the new engine the first time. Advanced the timing and it fired right up without a problem

 

Those are all great suggestions. I've tried.

The harmonic balancer is brand new and is for a 350. I've tried advancing the timing. No luck. it won't even kick if I advance the timing; with the cc-distributor or with the mallory unilite.

I have yet to check with the valve cover off; guess it's a possiblity. I've checked for TDC already; it's on. I have no doubt about that; it ran with the quadrajet; i was even able to drive down the street.

I don't know if this matters; but I can literally see all the gas that the carb is pumping just blow into the air when it backfires. I understand that something in the timing is off if it is backfiring as such; but if I turn the timing so that it doesn't fire like that it won't even kick (?)

 

I have a feeling that it it's on the wrong TDC. Even with the marks on the balencer and timing tab lined up the #1 cylinder may not be on the compression stroke. With the marks lined up it could be on either #6 compression stroke or on #1 compression stroke. You need it to be on the #1 compression stroke which you'll know when you see intake valve open then close. Once the intake valve has closed bring the #1 cylinder up to TDC. By the way I wouldn't even attemp to try this by bumping it over with the starter, use a breaker bar or a 1/2 drive ratchet with the right socket on the balencer bolt. Oh yeah if you still have your q-jet try it with it and see what happens.