Ok, here is the deal. I just droped in a new 350 in my TA. I have a mallory distributer with the 50,000 volt coil.
At first, 2 of my cylnaders were not firing, but i did not know this. when i took it around the block, every single time i let off of the gas, it detonated, or sounded like a shotgun.

So, i retarded the timing a little untill that problem went away. then i realized that 2 of my header tubes were still black, and not distorted from heat. i toutch them with the engine running, and they are not hot.

I get the idea that i got those two backwards. So i switch them and those two start firing.

Now, i get a muffled pop, like a backfire. I pulled the air cleaner off, goosed the throttle, and i had a nice fireball pop out of the carb.

What gives? Could the fireing order still be wrong? The engine sounds like it is running correctly, except for the popping.

Also, could my timing be off still? now that i got the other two firing, could that mean i have to advance my timing, or do i need to retard it?

I dont know whats going on, and on top of the dipstick tube leaking, (at the base, and i tried to seal with RTV) and my rear main seal leaking bad, im getting a bit tired of this crap. I just want to hear it run good before i have to pull the engine again, and freakin fix all the oil leaks.


Thanks for he

 

The firing order being off could cause that. Make sure your wires all go to the correct plugs. If they cross they could also cause the symptoms you describe.

Another quick thing to check is that the distributor isnt off 180. Make sure the rotor is pointing at the 1 terminal when the motor is at tdc 1 compression. Just pull the spark plug and bump the motor over slowly untill you get to compression.

 

ok, i dont know if its at TDC compression. I do know it was pointing to cyl 1 @ TDC when i timed it, but i wasnt told about the compression cycle when i did it.

Also, if the distributer is out 180, cant i just pull the distributer out a little, and have the rotor point 180 from where it was? I do not have a breaker bar at my house to turn the engine ( i did where i put the engine in)

Also, will the engine still run with the timing out 180? Thanks.

 

You can use the starter to turn the engine over. Youll feel and hear air rush out of the number one spark plug hole. Take a look at the balancer and make sure you in the neiborhood of tdc. Then pull the distributor out and point the rotor at the number 1 terminal. That should get you close enuf that turning the distributor gets it started and running right.

 

No. Forget about that. You wouldn't even run at all with a distributoir that far off static time.

You either have an incorrect firing order, weak/overheated spark plugs, or cross-firing due to weak wires, a bad cap/rotor/coil insulator, or a failing pickup coil/interruptor.

 

ok, figured it out. when i took the cap off, and got the #1 cyl to TDC, the rotor was pointing to cyl 2. i thought it was right b4, becasue i couldnt get it in anyother way.
Oh well, its all good.

Fixed the oil leaks, and got about 150 miles on it when i had to "cheat" on the breakin. I got chalanged by an Srt-4, and i figured what the hey.

Well, i had him till i broke my shifter in half in 4th gear, but i recoverd it into 5th, and we matched speeds around 125-130. Needless to say im happy with its performance