stilesops4

The car did not over heat at all - I took a preventative measure in replacing it. I actually don't see how it didn't overheat - the old radiator had large holes all the way through it! I tried replacing the vacuum lines today - it seemed to help a little, they probably needed replacing anyway. I also messed with the idle control...but to no avail. I am going to try redoing the timing tomorrow and see if that helps or fixes it. It seems like maybe the fuek/air mixture might have too much fuel in it too. I keep going back trying to figure out what I could have knocked when putting in the radiator but I just can't figure it out. But hey, thanks for all the input!

The spark plug wires are fine - I double checked, just to be sure.

I have now checked just about every connection that we could have possibly messed with (vacuum lines, distributor wires...) and everything there seems to be connected just fine. My new diagnosis is that the timing is off. The exhaust stutters, the engine shakes (a lot), between about 500 and 1000 rpms the smoke coming out the exhaust is gray, up to 2000 (which is the highest I could rev it before it cuts out all together) there is a lot of black smoke. I think that's all the symptoms. I am going to check the timing later today and if that doesn't fix it....

Thank you very much for help - I'll try a few things and see what I can do...

The smoke was grey - I'm thinking I MUST have knocked off a vacuum line...

I just finished putting in a new stock radiator in my '77 280z. However, when I started it up to get the coolant running, it seemed as though the gas was not being regulated correctly - heavy smoke and a real stink comin out the back. My other thought is that it may also have to do with the intake, which sounded like it was sucking away harder than usual. Funny thing is, the radiator and coolant system seems to work just fine. Any help or ideas would be GREATLY appreciated.