I have everything hooked up on my new big block and am trying to start it. I have double checked all the wires and set timing and when i start all i get is 'pops' out of the carbuerator and small fires that are peaking out the top of the carb.

So im pretty frustrated now. i have tried moving timing just a little bit both ways.

Can anyone help?

here ya go real simple first check firing order clockwise rotation 18436572 #1 being front plug drivers side. how to get your balancer on zero remove #1 plug (drivers front) have someone bump the startr over while your finger is in the sparkplug hole when you feel air blowing your finger off look at the harmonic balancer it should almost be at #0 stop when it gets there remove distributar cap the rotor should be pointing to the #1 plug wire on the cap if not turn or remove distributor to were the rotor does line up with #1 plug wire put distrubutar clamp back on and tighten then turn distributor 1/2 inch max turn clockwise and tighten bolt it should fire right up

ok i feel like a complete idiot.. i had all plugs in right order but i was 180 off timing! How stupid am I!? So i guess it would be firing on exhaust stroke?!?!?! out the carb...

anyways, thats where i stand now... a lot less frustrated

Bubba,
That is a very common mistake and one that I have made myself. On SBC and BBC, when the cam sprocket and crank sprocket timing dots are lined up correctly (at six o'clock and 12 o'clock respectively) the engine is in the correct firing position for cylinder #6, NOT #1.
Hope you didn't crank it excessively and wipe out the cam. Good luck.

i got it started after fixing the timing and it ran pretty good (beefy!) When i shut it off there was a little bit of smoke coming from the inside of the engine. Not a lot but just enough to make me wonder. It didnt smell like exhaust or oil.. maybe things just breaking in? cam lube? What do you think?

Do you have a PCV system hooked up?

i think its because your hands are oily when you put it together so there are a little oil in the ports, etc that are being burnt off?

I had the valve covers off for start up, but i do have a pcv system hooked up. I started it again and ran it at about 1500 for a while and it didnt smoke anymore... just the oil that was all over the headers. I also heard a clanging while running and closer inspectin indicates that crank counter wieght is just bearly nicking the inside of the oil pan where there is a dent. NOW i have to rent a hoist again just to get the pan off and fix it... anyone know any tricks to get a dent out of a pan without taking the engine out? i got the pan dropped down about 3 inches and the engine is jacked up just enough so i can get my hands all the way in the pan.. I can see where the crank was hitting, there's a shiny metal spot right where its dented up.

Use a dent puller. You could drill a hole in the pan use the puller then seal it up by putting a weld there?

generally easier to pull the engine.

i just fixed the oil pan. When i drained the oil it looked pretty clean (after running it) but there was just a little bit of fine silver metal in the bottom of the pan (mixed with oil). Is this normal? rings, bearing, cam just breaking in? :confused: