Finally

[QUOTE=kstyer]

Micki,

It sounds like your car is running too lean. If it does not do this cold, it is too lean. You need some carb repair.   After it backfires, does it operate okay once acellerating, or does it just continue to backfire?

I suspect the acellerator pump in the carb in not working.    Remove the air filter and look right down the carb with the engine shut off.   Make sure the choke plate is open. Fully open the throttle while looking down in the front section of the carb, the two primary bores.   You should see a stream of fuel in each one. If not, it's the acellerator pump.

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Yeah, it's ok after it backfires. It has ran better even after the backfires. It's more than one backfire. Shoot, I've only had this Holley 650 for a year. I'll look down in it tomorrow morning when it's lighter outside and let you know. If it is the acellerator pump does this mean I have to get another carb? Thank you so much Ken!!greypoupon6938804.8200231481

No, you won't need another carb.  It very repairable.  And somewhat common.  Let me know.  I can walk you through the repair if that's the problem.

Ok, took the filter off and looked down the carb. The choke plate was open. I opened the throttle and saw the gas in the two primary bores and even heard it squirt. So, I guess it's not the accellerator pump. What tha' heck?? I know it's got something to do with the carb, but don't know what.     Gold Thing!

Try this.  Start it up, and with the engine warm, hold the choke plate part way closed.  Then open up the throttle, just a good goose will do.  If it backfires, close the choke plate some more and try again.  If this stops the backfire, the carb is running too lean, which is what I suspect.  Either that or the timing is way off.  With your carb it might not be squirting enough from the acellerator pump, or you could have a bad power valve.  If the power valve fails, it will lean out and backfire like crazy.

Give it a shot and let me know.

OK, drove it about 35 miles, met a friend for lunch. Came out, tried to start the thing. Didn't want to start. Tried about 4 or 5 times. Finally got it to start, but it acted like it wanted to die, so I pushed the gas pedal & it still wanted to die...then it died.. . Let it rest a minute, cuz I probably flooded it. Tried to start it again. It did the same as the last sentence, but then I floored that and got a little backfire pop, acted like it wanted to die again so I pumped the gas more and quickly put it in reverse, then 1st and tore outta there and got on the freeway and it was fine. Got that home turned it off. While I was still in it, I started it again with no foot on the gas and she fired right up???    Then I got your email. I let it sit out there for about 45 minutes. Went out & tried to start it up and it didn't want to start again!!

Second try & it started. Followed your instructions - no backfire. But when I closed the choke plate and barely left it open it tried to die on me and acted like it did when the didn't want to start.
Beats me, maybe I should just it.

So this is always when it's hot.  With this info, I wonder if it's vapor locking, or boiling fuel in the carb.  Which also brings to mind the possibility of alcohol in the fuel.  To much will do that.  Has it been doing this for several tanks of fuel, or just recently?  Does your car have a return line from the fuel pump?

I would say it does this when it is warm, cooled off for a while (30 to 40 minutes). When I haven't driven it for a couple of days and it's the first run. When I got it home, it had been running for 35 minutes and turned it off. Then, just for grins, I turned the key to see if it would start. Sure enough, it started right up and it was hot. About 45 minutes later I tried to start it up again and it didn't start right away. Second try, it started (which is better than 5 or 6 times earlier after the first run). I put a lead additive in the tank when I fill it up. It's been doing this for several tanks. Now, don't laugh, but I don't know if it does have a return line from the fuel pump. How do ya tell? I know I put in a new fuel pump and a new $$ Malory Distributor. Plugged up the vacuum line from the old distributor. Frustrating!!!   

Oeps Mick... see as whe are in the same boat....  Like Joel asked me : started the problem after YOU where doing something on the car  or appeared it quite a while ( running good ) after the changings ?

Plugged the vac liine?  What is the base timing set at?  If it's too high compensating for the lack of vacuum advance the engine can run too warm.   Not enough to overheat, but enough to boil the fuel out of the carb when it's shut off.  May be on to something here.   Carry a can of starting fluid with you.  When it does not start, quite trying.  Spray a decent blast of starting fluid down the carb and see if it fires right up.   If so, it's a fuel problem, and likely from fuel boiling.   Timing does make a lot of difference here.  You might try retarding it a few degrees and see if the problem goes away.

As far at the return line goes, look at the fuel pump.  If there are two lines going over to the frame, it has the return line.

Micki, holler at me sometime this w/end, or next week. Let me take a look at it. You may have a timming problem, since you changed the dist. It could also have a carb gasket/vaccuum leak. If ya want, bring 'er by when ya can. We'll figure it out & fix it!!