I agree that if the timing is off it could cause the adjustments made to the air/fuel not to be accurate. Timing should be set before carb adjustments are made. However, I would guess that since there is no mention of any hard starting conditions, or actual backfires while starting, the timing is not off enough to cause any other issues.

A more accurate way to adjust timing is to actually use a timing light. Anywhere between 6 and 10 degrees BTDC should be OK. If you are just moving the distributor without any reference to what the actual timing is, you may be compensating for an incorrect setting somewhere else (air/fuel) and when you actually correct that setting, the timing will be off again. You will be chasing your tail continuously.

Timing with a timing light, then air/fuel mixture with a vacuum gauge.

 

I do have a guy i work with, that is all carbs. He did offer to give me a hand, and get it right. What is upsetting is it ran fine, now i have a mess on my hands. Nice weather is here, should of had a car cruise this weekend, just very frustrating. I know we have all had issues with our cars, hell they are anywhere from 10 to 42 years old, its going to happen.

 

I find when I get frustrated to stop completely for the day getting on here helps alot. Then new things come up and new ideas and working on the car becomes very enjoyable again.

 

i agree, time to put it aside for a day, and pick it back up at a later day, when i am clear headed.

 

pulled the plugs tonight, found number 4 not fireing. All other plugs slight blackness to them, but not real bad, number 4, look like it just went in out of the box. I have a new coil, so i am thinking points? or cap and rotor?

 

and you're positive you've traced every spark plug wire from distributor to plug and they are all in the correct order? backfiring on one side usually means you've got two plug wires crossed.

 

I agree with Jimmy, double check the firing order. It's easy to fug up.

 

dudes, i must be f'n retarded. 2 and 3 wires-WRONG. I checked that sucker 3 times, i have no clue how i messed up. See what happens when you walk away and clear your head. A stupid mistake, that drove me nuts for 2 days. Proves when you get frustrated, walk away. Thanks again, and i am not a dumb person, honest.

 

Been there..done that...
When I put in my engine ..it was backfiring horribly...
I had 3&4 backward....

 

now she runs real good and sounds GREAT. I think i need to replace the choke pot though. Throttle stuck on me when car was warmed up. I hate that dam choke pot, anyway around it?