I have a brand new 383 stroker, isnt even broke in good, its a carbed engine with a new
q-jet, new headers, brand new hei distributor.... Ive run the engine long enough 2 break in the cam, but that was with old distrib., carb, and headers... No issues.... When the cam was broke in, i let everything cool off and swapped out for new parts...
When i cranked it back up, it ran fine for about 5-10 mins... Then it started popping, or back firing out of the passenger side header. LOUD.. and only on the pass side.... If i increase the timing it gets quieter, but if i retard it, it gets worse... Im confused, maybe i misalighned the dis When i put it in? Any help appreciated!

 

Sounds like a fouled plug or burned plug wire.

 

Brand new NGK plugs no fouling as far as i can tell,
and new msd wires u have to cut and crimp ends on (no marks on them)...

 

Well, one way or another, you have a cylinder not firing, and raw fuel in the exhaust.

Not much sense in arguing about that part, at least.

Spark plug or wire.

Look again.

 

Not saying that isnt what is happening, just trying 2 look at all possibilities... And i figured maybe i got the distrib. 180* degrees out or somethin when i switched 2 the new stuff...

 

Nope, not the 180° out thing.

It's ONE CYL that's not running, and dumping raw fuel and clean air into the exhaust.

See my signature for a helpful guide on to how to think about this sort of situation.

Which cyl is it?

 

... ok .... Its number 4 i think... Could be 6.... Its one of those, but the plugs and wires both look good...

 

Here, pull wires off your cap for the passenger side until you pull one and nothing happens. Pull plugs. Go with the simplest option because they are almost always the right one.

 

Find out which one for sure:

Wait til the engine cools down COMPLETELY. Start it up; let it run for about 30 seconds if it has headers, about a minute and a half if manifolds. Drip a small amount of water on each tube with a squirt water bottle or the like. One will be UNMISTAKABLY cooler than the rest. Inspect that one closely.

 

Ok, its number 4... Im going 2 a junkyard today for my other car, ill pick up some plugs and wires from napa on my way back.... I hope thats my issue...

 

I changed all the plugs out, hit the switch and cranked her up.........

NO POPPING!!!!!!!
400hp never sounded so good!!

THANK YOU!!!! You saved me a world of headache... I was severly overthinking my situation...

PS
Im not 100% on the spark plug gap, i used chiltons spec for 350 .045, is that about right??

 

Glad it was that simple. Simple is good, eh?

Yes .045" is fine... of all the variables that have a significant effect on how an engine runs, plug gap is pretty low on the list, and .045" is right smack in the middle of the "normal" range, so yeah...

 

Awesome
Simple is always good!

Ive spent to much money in just the engine alone in that car... It equals out somewhere in the neighborhood of $10 per hp....
And i didnt realize i had spent more on the engine than i originally paid for the car until after i added up all the small things... Heads, block, intake carb, headers......

i love my fbodys!!! (I have had 6 since i started diriving in '06)
i thank you, and my 78 camaro thanks you......