Running/Starting rough

[06Daytona]

I started playing around with the Cuda today so I can get it ready for inspection to get it registered. When I fire it up it takes a few tries before it rattles the windows, but that might just be bad gas since the car hasn't been on the road since 06 and I'm sure the gas is from back then. When I turn it over if it doesn't start it backfires through the carb and I get a nice cloud of smoke seeping up around the hood. I pulled the plugs and cleaned them up since they were a little black, but I'm thinking it's a timing issue or possibly the carb is in need of a good rebuild. I'm seriously lacking in tools at the moment until I get everything down from Canadia so I've been borrowing wrenches from the neighbor but he's not a gearhead, so he doesn't have a timing light etc. It would be great if I could get a few ideas about what to hunt for under the hood before I go out and buy tools that I already have in El Norte.
Eventually I'll be doing a thorough cleaning/checking, but right now I'm just looking to get it running on the first try.
I did notice that the fuel/air mixture screws seem to be all the way out.
Oh yeah, It's a little itty bitty Carter 2 bbl carb for now, but the tow truck driver that delivered it has a six pack intake and carbs just sitting collecting dust in his garage.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[purple1]

4 year old gas!!! 
Get that stuff out of the tank and use it in your lawn mower or as parts cleaner. Get some good gas then go from that.

[06Daytona]

Took almost 5 gallons of blue parts cleaner out of the tank and found a cracked fuel line at the sending unit while I was at it. I replaced some of the old gas with some 93 octane and I hope it'll mix with whatever was left of the old stuff. Once I can get the car out on a real road I'll burn off all the old gas along with some of that nasty rubber on the back tires.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

With gas that old you are lucky it even starts.   

So get some good gas in there first. If it is still backfiring thru the carb after that, then we can look at timing or weak spark.

[purple1]

Took almost 5 gallons of blue parts cleaner out of the tank

  Now let us know if you need any help. Lots of great people here.

Dave

[06Daytona]

Got most of the bad gas out yesterday, and got a few gallons of 93 octane in it. It started this morning without dumping gas into the carb, but it still took a few tries for it to happen. I have noticed that it doesn't seem to be starting while I'm cranking it, but after I let go of the key. I'll take the car for a little burn around the neighborhood again today to see if it's running better under load.

[purple1]

Sounds like an issue with the starting circuit. Could be under the hood or maybe the key switch.
It might be better to start a new thead in the electrical section. A little more info could help here too. Is this electronic ign. or points? Single or dual ballest? Original wiring or has someone changed it?

[06Daytona]

I'm thinking there are still fuel issues at the moment or else there's something with the timing. The car starts now without much problem, but when I step on the gas the car lags and sputters. I'm going to keep dumping new gas in until I can be sure that the old stuff is gone.
It's still got points, but I have no idea if it's single or dual ballast since I haven't popped the cap off yet. Come to think of it, the points might just need adjusting/replacing. As far as I know it's all the original wiring, but it's hard to tell because somebody was 'nice' enough to paint everything under the hood with flat black paint and either a brush or a roller. I'll pop the distributor cap today and check the points before I start getting too crazy ripping stuff apart.

[purple1]

You sure its got points? I just took a look in your other thread with the underhood pic. That sure looks like a dual ballast resistor and an electronic ign. to me. That wiring also looks like it could use some help.

The laging and sputtering could be fuel problems still. Changing out your fuel filter would be the first thing to try. Make sure its not going lean on you when you step into it. Nice all around tune up seems in order here.

[06Daytona]

I haven't worked on Mopar in years. It looks like a Chevy points distributor cap to me, that's why I thought it was points. I'm planning on changing out the wiring once my wife is settled in here. We only got married 3 weeks ago, so we're still in the process of moving her stuff in. I'll check the filter right now when I pop the distributor cap off.
The flat deck driver that hauled the car for me has a friend with a six-pack intake with carbs that he's looking to sell and I was wondering if 400 bucks is reasonable since I'll probably rebuild the carbs. Also, will the intake manifold from a 340 fit a 318? Chevy guy remember, I'm used to every small block part fitting just about any other small block

[purple1]

Caps look the same for the old Mopars. That 340 intake will bolt up, however the ports on the intake are larger than the ports on the 318 heads. You will never be able to tune it proper. $400 sounds like a good price though. If you change heads to 340 or 360 heads it will be fine, but you loose some compression with the 340-360 heads as they have larger chambers. I did that with a 318 once. I put the 360 "J" heads on and a 340-4 barrel intake. Man would that thing go for a little 318.

I think thats another topic though. For now just get it tuned and running and then decide what direction you want to go.

[06Daytona]

Changed out the rubber fuel line from the frame to the carb and put a filter in before and after the fuel pump. The gas line was crumbling in my hand when I took it off. Hit the gas three times, turned the key and the car fired right up. It's still a little jumpy when I put my foot into it, but that might still be from old gas. I'm going to fill the tank with new gas and throw in a bottle of carb cleaner to see if that helps. I'll know in the morning if the fuel filter/lines have made a difference.
Thanks for the help

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Another thought... There is a rubber fuel line from your sending unit in the gas tank to the solid fuel line. You might want to see if that is in bad shape also. Having a car sit for years can create a bunch of gremlins, but I'm hoping your carb is just dirty.   

[06Daytona]

I replaced that line yesterday when I drained the 4 year old parts cleaner from the tank, but thanks for the suggestion. I think the car just needs a good fast run to blow some of the gremlins off, then I can find and deal with the leftover gremlins. That will be early next week sometime though. Right now I'm stuck with annoying the neighbors

[06Daytona]

The Cuda fired up on the second try this morning, so I must be getting close to finding the gremlin. It did backfire through the carb once and I noticed a puff of smoke come from the brake booster so I looked a little closer and found a vacuum leak where they'd put a small hose on the brake booster for some reason. I plugged it with a bolt and it seems to idle a little better now. Is the hose there for a reason or was it just there because it was there?