I just recentley got my car finished and drivable.On one of many drives around the block getting things in order it started popping like firecrackers going off especially bad on hard acceleration. Shortly after I had a voltage regulator go bad, burnt a hole in the rubber/tar crap on back. Replaced the VR thinking that was causing my problem. Didn't so I pulled the plugs(fouled) and replaced them and my motor woke up, starts right up now popping gone. Drove it to local show (14 miles) total and almost home starts popping again(Bad) Pulled #8 and #1 plugs and fouled out
I am running Champion RC12YC and was told to try running them at .040 gap. 1st set were at .035
I am running the 440 source heads, 10.86:1 compression, timing at 34*, Holley Ultra Street Avenger 770CFM and 4 corner Idle, Runs 175* driving and 185* at idle. Choke is operating and pulling completely off, when starting it cold I get a little puff of blue smoke till it warms up, also Hughes HEH3742BL if it matters.
With all this info am I running the right plugs or is this a carb issue? Carb was opened up and gone thru and all ok.Put in a lighter power Valve.
Can anyone point me in the right direction here?
BTW when issue 1st started verified #5 and #7 wires were correct and not cross firing also checked wiring and coil, all ok.
I do have a MSD 6AL box and MSD Blaster Coil waiting to be installed.
Thnx Guys!!!

Having some what the same problem,, I'm thinking it's the Holley carb... what carb do you have?

Holley Ultra Street Avenger 770CFM

Total timing at 34, but what is the more important side of timing, your INITIAL setting.

If it doesn't have 18-20 initial, maybe more, you're not close IMO.

Is the motor fresh? If so there shouldn't be any puff of blue smoke on start-up, should there? That seems a symptom of bad valve guides or seals. Maybe you have oil getting in where it shouldn't? Have you confirmed what is fouling the plugs?
Just a thought.

Possible intake not sealing properly. As Rob said, what is your initial timing?

Its just smokey, fresh motor smells in no way of burning oil.
The guy who built the motor opened the dist up and changed the springs and has it set at 34* total.
Vac. advance is unplugged.

Oil or carbon fouled plugs?
If carbon then is ignition problem or carb is dumping to much gas.
Any exhaust smoke? If so what color.
Really should take a vacuum reading then choose the power valve.
Plug wires? New and not touching the exhaust anywhere?

Do you find yourself driving a lot with the throttle barely cracked open (cruising)?

My holley needed the IFRs restricted to solve the same problem. It ran clean if I goosed it and wind down and repeat, but if I tried to cruise it would load up and foul out inside a week. Highway driving was no problem- the throttle is open enough to get into the main jets. 35 mph cruising stuck behind someone doing 34 is pig rich running on the t-slot.

Good luck

Timing first. Setting timing on a street driven car using the total timing method is a rotten way to do it.

Good luck.

either oil sucked up past the valley pan or carb issue

You saying I should get rid of the light springs in the Dizzy and use the vaccum advance as it was meant to be??

What rpm is it idling, and what is the timing when it's idling?

I'm going to guess it wants to idle around 1K.

Put a timing light on it and find out where it's timed at idle..

Disconnect and plug the vac advance when doing this and don't hook it back up until you get it sorted out.