I'm having trouble diagnosing a issue with the old brick. I started about two weeks ago, she starting to stall at a red light so I gave her a little gas and the muffler exploded. I managed to drive home. the next day she would not start. This is what she is doing... when I turn the key she will fire, but she'll rev to 5000 rpm and stall ( thats not giving any gas) if I do give some gas she'll studder a bit than stall. Now every time I try to start her there is a poping snapping sound from the left side of the block followed by a sizable puff of smoke. I have replaced the plugs and wires, checked fusees , fuel relay and both pumps seam to be working fine. Anyone ever had this problem? Any info help !!!!! stranded in Quebec

 

Hello, Sorry to hear about your problem....CHeck the timing....sounds like it's firing at the wrong time....u said that u replaced the plugs and wires....did u connect them back in the correct order?? I recently had a no start or an intermittent start problem that I was chasing. Had my 83 244gl towed twice to Volvo to diagnos after i relaced the wires, the coil , the rotor and the dist cap....along with the fuel pump relays....
turned out the be a cracked #12 fuse....what the heck ! It was doing it's own thing and made contact whenever it wanted too.

good luck !