10 BTDC and 4-5psi will start car, set from there. Belching smoke and fire is not good. confirm spark plug routing for an RB (CCW) 18436572. Popping carb sounds like firing order/plug wiring is wrong. 5/7 are next to each other, common to mix up.
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See if boosters are dripping fuel at idle (fuel level too high or too much pressure), careful looking into carb during idle, use a mirror or video it with cell phone. check Edelbrock for a missing vacuum port plug on rear base, they come with it unscrewed rolling around the box sometimes.
