Timing issue???

[gunbunny]

Took off the headers, sandblasted painted and put back on. Wrapped and hid most of the wiring that the PO left hanging all over. New spark plugs, wires, alternator, water pump and PS pump. Drove it for the first time today in a couple of weeks and when I let of the accelerator it pops and crackles. Cruising at 55 and floor it and it back fires. I didn't mess with anything on the engine that would cause that. It ran perfect before. Timing issue? Distributor is locked down solid...didn't rotate at all when installing new wires. Thanks in advance.

[Churchill]

Were they pre-made wires or id you have to assemble them? I had to change the boots on my wires and it did pretty much the same thing. Turns out I must have messed on of them up. Check spark plug gap too. Also Might be an exhuast leak. What is your timing set at? I'd just go through and double check anything you touched and see what might have changed from when it was running well before you started working on stuff.

[gunbunny]

Originally Posted by Churchill

Were they pre-made wires or id you have to assemble them? I had to change the boots on my wires and it did pretty much the same thing. Turns out I must have messed on of them up. Check spark plug gap too. Also Might be an exhuast leak. What is your timing set at? I'd just go through and double check anything you touched and see what might have changed from when it was running well before you started working on stuff.

Pre-made wires. Will start checking everything this weekend. Was looking forward to driving it again today and was not happy.

[Churchill]

Did you mess with the carburetor at all?

[gunbunny]

Originally Posted by Churchill

Did you mess with the carburetor at all?

Not a bit. That is what is weird. The only thing that I messed with was putting new plugs and good plug wires.

[Churchill]

Huh. well then its got to be in there somewhere. I don't know what you could have accidentally bumped up against and changed, elec choke maybe? I'd recheck my plug gap and all the connections at my plug wires.

[Churchill]

maybe not enough back pressure from your exhuast? I've got 3" exhuast and it pops and crackles when I let off the gas, mostly when going downhill. The original pipe size for the truck was 2.5"

[zeldman]

Try the easy first. Check firing order and make sure you didn't accidently cross two plug wires.

[old Chevy guy]

Originally Posted by zeldman

Try the easy first. Check firing order and make sure you didn't accidently cross two plug wires.

x's 2

[Ol Blue K20]

Check #5 and #7 easy to cross and close enough in the firing order...don't ask how I know.....

[sduckworth13]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

Check #5 and #7 easy to cross and close enough in the firing order...don't ask how I know.....

X2. I had a similar issue on mine. It was doing the same thing, but I was shooting flames out the carburetor and my neighbor happen to come by and suggested to check the 5 and 7 and sure enough that was what it was. Good luck with getting it fixed.