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Technical => Engine Tech => Topic started by: Clayton on September 25, 2007, 06:44:07 PM

Title: smoking and backfiring after tune up (83 Cat)
Post by: Clayton on September 25, 2007, 06:44:07 PM
as it says, I changed plugs and wires cap and rotor....  and now it backfires, sputters and smokes and the cat. convertor is rattlin a bit


Any ideas?

Rev up it backfires and smokes..


I used the same Firing order as my SO bird
Title: smoking and backfiring after tune up (83 Cat)
Post by: daboss351 on September 25, 2007, 07:07:36 PM
sounds like timing or ignition related then if it just showed up. Or it misses its master.
Title: smoking and backfiring after tune up (83 Cat)
Post by: blu84302 on September 25, 2007, 07:33:24 PM
Best suggestion is to do it again.  Start at the button and work to the plugs.  It has to be somewhere in the stuff you changed.
Title: smoking and backfiring after tune up (83 Cat)
Post by: Clayton on September 25, 2007, 08:10:40 PM
checked it again and its in the right order.

cats? the floor is gettin hella hot.
Title: smoking and backfiring after tune up (83 Cat)
Post by: daboss351 on September 25, 2007, 08:15:41 PM
Why would it do it all of a sudden though?
Might be them clogged though? are they glowing?
Title: smoking and backfiring after tune up (83 Cat)
Post by: Clayton on September 25, 2007, 09:23:23 PM
floor got way hot. the pop im gettin is from the exhaust system

prolly the cats... Claude keeps tellin meh that a free-er flowing exhaust would help it alot.
Title: smoking and backfiring after tune up (83 Cat)
Post by: 84 Fila on September 25, 2007, 09:28:12 PM
So whats stoppin ya? Stang shorties, summit H, catback of your choice?
Title: smoking and backfiring after tune up (83 Cat)
Post by: SLEEPER T-BIRD 87 on September 25, 2007, 09:30:33 PM
sounds like you went clockwise in your wiring insted of  counterclockwise
Title: smoking and backfiring after tune up (83 Cat)
Post by: 32VFoxBird on September 25, 2007, 09:39:42 PM
im pretty sure 5.0's plug wires are routed counter-clockwise, not clockwise.
Title: smoking and backfiring after tune up (83 Cat)
Post by: Clayton on September 25, 2007, 09:40:12 PM
say huh? doesnt it spin CCW?
Title: smoking and backfiring after tune up (83 Cat)
Post by: SLEEPER T-BIRD 87 on September 25, 2007, 09:47:16 PM
Quote from: 87thunderbirdBlackJack;178675
say huh? doesnt it spin CCW?


yeah i made a typo been a long day at work

but sounds like it is crosswired to me
Title: smoking and backfiring after tune up (83 Cat)
Post by: 32VFoxBird on September 25, 2007, 09:48:26 PM
Quote from: 87thunderbirdBlackJack;178675
say huh? doesnt it spin CCW?


yes, for v8's and 3.8l's.
Title: smoking and backfiring after tune up (83 Cat)
Post by: 32VFoxBird on September 25, 2007, 09:50:36 PM
http://www.302w.com/Firing-order.aspx
Title: smoking and backfiring after tune up (83 Cat)
Post by: Clayton on September 25, 2007, 09:53:55 PM
i got that its the same order as a SO 5.0its wired right.


my problem is it feels like the car cant breathe maybe a clogged cat. bad o2?


when im going normal speed it chugs and acts all retarded, then i tromp on it and it hesitates then boom it goes.
Title: smoking and backfiring after tune up (83 Cat)
Post by: V8Demon on September 25, 2007, 09:59:23 PM
Does this car have a thermactor system?
Title: smoking and backfiring after tune up (83 Cat)
Post by: thunderjet302 on September 25, 2007, 10:01:26 PM
For fun try unbolting the cat and see if that helps. If it does you've found your problem.

If you are looking at the distributer from the top ccw from 1 should be 5. But you know the SO firing order since you rebuilt your Birds engine:hick: .

Dumb question but what plugs did you use? What gap?

Oh that EEC III coolant sensor didn't go out again did it? When Claude had it I remember he changed it to make it run right.
Title: smoking and backfiring after tune up (83 Cat)
Post by: CougarSE on September 25, 2007, 10:03:21 PM
The cat wouldn't just all of a sudden  keep the car from running.  If the firing order is off.. much unburnt fuel will be making it into the exhaust being ignited in the cat as it will hold heat from the exhaust.. causing it to get VERY hot.
Title: smoking and backfiring after tune up (83 Cat)
Post by: thunderjet302 on September 25, 2007, 10:11:14 PM
Ok just so you know ccw from wire #1

5.0 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8
5.0 HO 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Title: smoking and backfiring after tune up (83 Cat)
Post by: Clayton on September 25, 2007, 10:20:26 PM
i got that, its wired right
Title: smoking and backfiring after tune up (83 Cat)
Post by: turbo88 on September 25, 2007, 11:44:58 PM
Your cat is plugged. take the  thing off and look at it, happen to my fathers f-250 ford truck. EXACT same symptoms.
Title: smoking and backfiring after tune up (83 Cat)
Post by: BEARMAX on September 26, 2007, 01:17:00 AM
also did u drop any of the plugs u may have bent the eletrode and closed the gap and if the cats are cloged cut them off and strait pipe it also dont toss the cats here worth money sell them toa core buyer im geting $65 a pop for those style down here hell i sold 17 converters today to my buyer and walked away with $1,070