Okay, so... lets recap.
I got the correct ASF-42C plugs, gapped them at 0.045" and ran the wires in the non-HO firing order and the car had started and the timing was (in hindsight) a little too advanced. It still seemed to be idling good so I took it around the block and the backfiring started when decelerating and I limped it home.
The nexy day it didn't seem to get the proper idle and it sounded "off".
I started again checking for spark.
First, I pulled each plug and noted they were already sooted from just minutes of run time. Using the spark tester connected to each wire and to ground on the block each sparked the "recommended" 30K volt gap and lit the induction light to what seemed the proper frequency while cranking.
WHen I hook everything up and start it, the idle still sounds "off", the induction light lights up sporatically/intermittently on many cylinders especially 1-4. On a whim, I tried the HO firing order and that runs markedly worse. For reference I'm sure this is the cam the builder put in it in the 90's . 31-218-2 http://www.compperformancegroupstore..._Code=SBHFTCHE
From CompCams: The firing order for the early 221-302 engines and the early 5.0 engines is 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8 This is the firing order for all prefix “31” cams and is the standard replacement cam for all early engines. The later 5.0 engine and all 351 engines are designed to use the 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8 firing order. This is the firing order for all prefix “35” cams, and cams ordered for these engines should use this prefix. Other than the firing order, the cams are identical. By changing the spark plug wiring at the distributor these cams can be interchanged.
I think I'm good on the firing order. When I put the inductor on the coil to cap wire, it seems the pulses are quick, uniform and not "missing" like it is for the individual wires to the cylinders.
Next on the agenda:
Try my old cap.
Check the balancer hasn't slipped and TDC is TDC.
Pull the distributor again and try one tooth either way of where I have it.
I'm losing some ambition on this...
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