Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines Backfire

I've gotta 235 in my 57 Chevy. Since I've starting monkeying with the car, its backfired whenever I would leave a stop any faster than a crawl. It seems like the car is runnin' really lean. It studders as I accelerate.

I've tried adjusting the mixture and its only gotten worse. I tried to set the timing and it keeps jumping around. I'll get it somewhat dialed in, start the car again later and have to start all over again. I have only a slight vaccum leak.

I'm putting in a new distributor tomorrow. Anything else I should be trying?

Need more info.Why did you monkey with it in the first place?Those are such a simple motor that its hard to screw them up.Set your points a little tight to compensate for wear and unhook the vaccum advance.Do you have a dwell meter?See if it climbs with RPMs,if so there is something worn in there.Check for vaccum leaks at themanifold to head area also.Good luck.

I was monkeying with it because it wasn't running when I got it.

I'm coming from a 305 with HEI. My knowledge of points can be limmited at times.

I've got a dwell meter. I'll slap it on later today and see what it tells me.

Thanks for the help. These are all things I haven't tried yet.

V8 dwell is about 30 and you should try for 26 to 28 on the six,or a little tighter if it will run there,the higher the number the tighter the gap.A good machine shop can rebush you dist if you cant find one.

I dropped in the new distributor (the Kragen special). The car is running great.

The shaft of the old distributor had some vertical play, didn't turn very easy, and my points were cooked.

With the old dist., my tach needle was all over the place. Now it doesn't even twitch.

Again, thanks for your help.