Puff of white smoke smells like vaporized gas after no start

[limelight72]

I'm getting a puff of white smoke after trying to start 318. No leaks everything set right except I think timing. Could the spark plugs be wet because timing might be retarded too much causing it?

Checked the oil for water, nothing there it's good.
Checked levels and tune and that's good.

All I can think of is timing.

Ideas?

 

[Lonewolf3165]

Where is the "smoke" coming from? How long are you cranking it before you see the smoke?
Help us help you man!

 

[limelight72]

Where is the "smoke" coming from? How long are you cranking it before you see the smoke?
Help us help you man!

About 4-5 seconds trying to crank it acts like its gonna start but just does this. Puff is coming directly from Carb.

Smells of vaporized gas. Checked heads no water in oil nothing.

 

[Lonewolf3165]

Yes, it's gas vapor. A few things may be going on. 1st it may be flooded & trying to fire an over-rich mixture & it's just backfiring up through the carb because it's chasing air. 2nd it may be the timing is too far advanced or seriously retarded.
Start by verifying you have good spark & the plugs aren't fouled. Next check & adjust your timing if necessary. Is this points or electronic ignition?
If you have spark & suspect it's fouled, remove & clean/ regap the plugs, try cranking it with your foot to the floor (WOT) & see if it will start.
Next you'll have to start digging deeper & do a compression test & check the carb floats aren't stuck & the choke is opening. Make sure you have no open vacuum ports & no vacuum leaks.

 

[limelight72]

Yes, it's gas vapor. A few things may be going on. 1st it may be flooded & trying to fire an over-rich mixture & it's just backfiring up through the carb because it's chasing air. 2nd it may be the timing is too far advanced or seriously retarded.
Start by verifying you have good spark & the plugs aren't fouled. Next check & adjust your timing if necessary. Is this points or electronic ignition?
If you have spark & suspect it's fouled, remove & clean/ regap the plugs, try cranking it with your foot to the floor (WOT) & see if it will start.
Next you'll have to start digging deeper & do a compression test & check the carb floats aren't stuck & the choke is opening. Make sure you have no open vacuum ports & no vacuum leaks.

Electronic ignition. Also there is no choke on the carb. Never had this issue though. Checking plugs in the morning as I do not have a garage for lighting lol. I'll check timing also. Could too little timing foul the plugs?

 

[67Dart273]

Any reason to suspect timing chain?

 

[limelight72]

Any reason to suspect timing chain?

No it's brand new. Checked chain, oil, carb, going to inspect plugs/wires and timing on dizzy tomorrow. I'll update it after.

 

[67Dart273]

So is this a fresh build or was it running and now won't start?

Any reason to suspect the cam is not properly in time?

Where is the timing set, and how do you know that? In other words how did you set the timing?

Do you KNOW that the timing is actually on the no1 compression stroke?

Timing might simply be retarded.

In other words give us the full story. Rusty's crystal ball is still broke.

 

[limelight72]

So is this a fresh build or was it running and now won't start?

Any reason to suspect the cam is not properly in time?

Where is the timing set, and how do you know that? In other words how did you set the timing?

Do you KNOW that the timing is actually on the no1 compression stroke?

Timing might simply be retarded.

In other words give us the full story. Rusty's crystal ball is still broke.

Was running perfect, I'll redo the timing tomorrow and post back if it's not that. It might just be fouled plugs and the excess gas being expelled. Updating in about 10 hours lol

 

[nm9stheham]

Just be careful; if you are getting puffs of vapor pushed back up through the carb, you could have a carb fire. It almost sounds like the timing is waaay off, so badly as to be firing the wrong cylinder at the wrong time. One likely source is crossfiring; check under the distributor cap and clean it really well with a very clean, dry cotton cloth to get an moisture, dirt and carbon out to make sure there is no crossfiring between cylinders un the distributor.

Is there any chance that any of the plug wires got crossed?

 

[RedFish]

If it was running perfect until shut off it is probably just flooded.

 

[Mad Dart]

IF this is a fresh rebuild and it has never been fired…… My guess is you are 180* out on the timing. The distributor needs to be pulled out if so and clocked 180* then verify you have the correct firing order.


OOPS, thought I read all the posts but…… Just read you had it running. Timing is way Retarded is my second guess.

 

[limelight72]

There was a lot of gas in the oil. It fired right up this morning. I'm kinda iffy about running it to advance to get oil and a filter though. It was severely flooded.

Would you chance runing it to the parts store? It's like 1/4 a mile away.

 

[RedFish]

I wouldn't change the oil and filter until I cured the flooding issue.
Pumping the gas pedal is one way to flood the engine.
Without knowing anything about your car, fuel delivery system, conditions surrounding this instance...Here's the most common scenario...
Starts fine and drives fine, turn it off hot and wait an hour or so then attempt restart. The fuel in the carb bowl drained out and flooded the intake. In this case, to wait 10 or 12 hours and attempt restart it would fire up after some cranking as if nothing's wrong. That's because the fuel had evaporated. Also keep in mind that hot vaporizing fuel will find its way into the oil. Not always bleeding past the rings but just filling the crankcase through that breather system. Just a little fuel makes a lot of odor. Its when the oil level climbs the dipstick that you really have a problem.
So.... mechanical fuel pump or electric, what carb, etc..

 

[limelight72]

Thanks for help it's fixed.

 

[Mad Dart]

So what fixed it?

 

[limelight72]

So what fixed it?

Was a stuck float and I missed it. Got that fixed, changed the oil and plugs and it's fine.

 

[nothingbutdarts]

Was a stuck float and I missed it. Got that fixed, changed the oil and plugs and it's fine.

Great news & Thanks for the update!!!! Now blow the cob webbs out of it!!!!!

 

[limelight72]

Great news & Thanks for the update!!!! Now blow the cob webbs out of it!!!!!

Haha will do thanks again for all the help guys.