Blew up my Muffler please help

[jrg05a]

Hello all,

My car has been sitting for about two months. She was having trouble starting so I sprayed some starter fluid in the carb and she started right up. I decided to go get gas and on the way there was white smoke from the exhaust. On the way back, she start running rough and made a LOUD POP like a shotgun. I was now losing a lot of power and she sounded really deep( Which I liked) But I pulled over to find a massive softball size hole in the bottom of my exhaust muffler. Also, under the hood the Tee Plug was bubbling.

My questions are these:
1. Was she running very rich and dumping fuel in the muffler which caused it to explode?
2. Why does the tee bolt have fluid bubbling around it on the Tee Bracket?
3. Is this all a result of her running rich?

Thank you everyone.

[So Cal Mark]

unburnt fuel in the muff will cause it to explode, and white smoke is an indication of way too much fuel. Did your choke open?
As for the tee, are you asking about the water tee on the front of the motor? That plug should have a copper washer on it

[124JOE]

it sounds like its not fireing on all four and one cylinder is dumping gas into the EXH
at that time any back fire will ingnite it and boom
so check your cap, wires and spark plugs
and retune you carb and check your timing
i hope you get this fixed up

[jrg05a]

I am talking about the bolt on the front. And let me ask this question and y'all let me know if my logic makes sense.

My car has been non-running for over a month. Throughout this time period, I would do something (ex. change plugs, etc.) and try starting her. The cams would spin but she would never fire up. I tried starting her a lot throughout the past month. My question is this:

Is it possible that all those times I tried turning her on that I was moving gas through the car and it was just pooling up in the muffler until today when I got her running? Thanks for the input.

[So Cal Mark]

yes that's possible, but gas evaporates quickly so it wouldn't last that long. Heat could have caused it to fire off in the muff but an ignition malfunction is more likely

[fiat218]

that is exactly what happen to my 1980,. sitting for 8 years and BOOM . blew the top off
it was out of time and not only that ,the pick up was shot

[jrg05a]

I plan on getting a new muffler today or tomorrow. What are some areas I should look into to prevent this from happening again? Thanks again.

[So Cal Mark]

make sure the ignition system is working properly and that it isn't too rich. I'd do this before replacing the muff

[jrg05a]

So I'm somewhat a noob with all this but would that just consist of plugs, wires, cap, rotor, and carb.? Is there anything else I should be looking at or for?

[So Cal Mark]

sometimes the ign switch can fail, causing a lack of spark momentarily. When it comes back on, expect a big muffler explosion

[jrg05a]

Well here is where I'm at. Very confused. The car was running yesterday, blew a hole in the muffler, I could still start it and it would run rough and the plugs were fouled. Just replaced the plugs and now she just turns over. She won't start up. Even with the hole I figured she would run just rough. Any thoughts? I even tried spraying starting fluid in the carb and she still won't fire up.

[fiat218]

mine did the same, i have electronic ig and that was bad

[124JOE]

turn the key on and test the coil for power
it may be the ING"where the key goes"
and the ing can be taken apart and cleaned

[jrg05a]

Just to double check, are you referring to the device in which the actual key goes in to start the car?

I guess I'm just confused as to how she ran (even though it was rich enough to blow up the muffler) and now with fresh new plugs she won't start.

Thanks once more for all the input and trying to help me solve this.

[124JOE]

yes where the key goes

but first change your condencer
its on the side of the distibutor
its round and has a wire going to the points