Timin help!!!!!!

[87 V20]

Sorry if this is in the wrong spot but I set the timin on my 350tbi ,and its runnin real good at roughly 13degrees....it runs terrible anywhere else....but now it puffs white smoke when I start it....smells like fuel but just don't know what to do runnin. rich???...any help would be appreciated much....thanks

[Fairlane514]

White smoke would indicate coolant burning. If it were running rich, you would see black.

Did you set the timing with the vacuum source plugged?   13 degrees is probably fine, if you don't hear any detonation your'e o.k.  Do you know what your total timing is?  Safe would be 34-36.

[bd]

When you set your timing, did you unplug the EST connector to put it in bypass mode?  Factory TBI doesn't do well with a lot of extra timing.  Base timing should be 0° (book) up to ~6° with EST bypassed (unplugged).  More than that might cause severe detonation.

[87 V20]

With the est wire unhooked, the truck wouldn't run at all....?

[bd]

What was the ignition timing before you reset it?   

The EST bypass connector on a square body is located adjacent to the firewall bulkhead plug - it's a dark brown wire with single black strip running through a single-wire, Weatherpack connector.  Is this the wire you disconnected?

Setting the timing with EST operational can result in base timing that is way out of spec; usually severely retarded.  You need to figure out where the base timing is, now, and then set it correctly with the engine at operating temp and EST bypassed.  Do you know how to check/approximate distributor static timing?

[1979C20]

On a tbi motor you set the timing to ZERO. Do not advance it. The ESC(electronic spark control) adjusts the timing for you.