I have a 89 rs that I have swapped out the 305 tbi for a 350 carburated. Now that I have everything hooked up I cant get it to start, all it will do is backfire through the carb and catch fire for about 3 seconds. Is this a timing problem? Also does it matter that I dont have the y pipe hooked up? I have looked to see if I have any bent push rods but I dont think so cuz they all move when the motor is cranked over. plz help

 

what dist are you running?
sounds like the timing is off

 

A Delco Hei

 

have you had a light on it or you doing this alone?
just mess with it a little.....you said it wants to catch so its probly not off by much

 

since I have never gotten it to run I havent put a light on it. How much damage does the fire coming out of the carb do?

 

just get it running first...may blow a power valve popping back like that,but that won't cause it not to start

 

Sounds like its a little retarded,haha. Try turning the dist. a little toward the pass side.

If this is a new motor,it needs to stay above 2000 RPM's when you first fire it up and an extra set of hands is REALLY handy for times like these. Its almost impossible to keep the car running and try to set the timing and not let it idle all at the same time.

 

i have always been told that if its backfiring through the carb then your distributer is 180 degrees out

 

Not exactly. Usually back firing through the carb is just an indication that your timing is too retarded. 180 out will barely fire, run very very rough, etc.

But, I would check to make sure you dont have it 180 degrees out. Easy to do. Pull #1 plug, put your finger over the plug hole, have somebody turn the motor over until you are on the compression stroke (will feel air push your finger out of the plug hole), then pull the distributor cap. The rotor should be pointing towards the #1 cylinder. Then make sure the wires are right and that should get you close enough for the motor to fire.