hi everyone. and thanks in advance for any help you can give me. i just recently purchased an 84 z28 with 305HO 5spd. motor was completely stock. i installed an edelbrock 1406 carb and 2101 intake with no spacer just gasket, a mallory unilite distributor with vac. advance connected to manifold vacuum, and all computer controlled wiring/components removed. it also has accel plugs, msd street fire plug wires, headers and full flowmaster exhaust. i have just rebuilt the carb making sure everything was adjusted properly and clean. right now the initial timing is set to 14*. it is running very rich at idle and not sure if it is while driving. the exhaust smells very rich. what could i need to do. also what do you think the initial timing should be set at and what should total timing be with the vac and mechanical advance. 32* a 3000rpm? sometimes if i rev it high (at a stop) it backfires out the carb. not sure if the initial timing or the total timing is off (have not checked total timing yet w/ the vac and mechanical) could the timing cause it to be running so rich or something w/ the carb. any body's input would be greatly appreciated because other camaros ive installed the edelbrock 1406 on ran fine right out of the box.

 

If you could swap out the carb for a known good one and then swap out the distributor for a known good one....you might isolate the problem....I don't know if that possible for you, I have 2 cars with the same vac advance set up and old parts from junk yards.

 

12 to 15 degrees advance initial is pretty good. (I think 6 was stock) Probably about 36 degrees total by 2500 rpm or so. Lean out your carb using a vacuum gauge and you might also consider re-jetting it if needed. That should get you performing pretty good.