Hi all-
So I went out to warm it up for the first time in about 8 weeks. At first I flooded it, like an idiot. Then after waiting, I cleared it (pedal down for a crank) and it started, but ran VERY rough and is just filling the world with blue smoke. I shut it down because it didn't seem to want to settle down; continued a very rough idle. Anybody experience this sort of thing? Do I have big trouble? It was just sitting after running great 2 months ago! I did add a gas stabilizer back then, and the gas is about that old as well, and its been cold, but 40 and sunny today.

Might be the carb float stuck to the bottom of the bowl. Mine would do that each spring and take a few miles to clear up. I just took the bowl off my Holley after sitting since fall and sure enough the float was glued to the bottom. The gas evaporates away and leaves sticky crud

I agree with Bob and my first check would be for flooding carb. Just look down it's throat while running and see if it is dumping fuel. If it is try giving the carb. a bunch of taps to hopefully break it free without taking the top of the carb off.

One thing I did do different was change the air cleaner housing from the stock one.... I'll take it off. see if anything changes. I might be crowding the choke mechanism and it cant operate freely?

Yup, if it's slammed closed it could make it do that.

Well, that might've been the issue. I think I was hanging the choke closed. its back to running normally again....I guess I need to get a flatter bottom plate.
sorry for panicking!

Completely understandable, it's your baby!

Or your float is now floating

One additional thing to note. Holding the gas pedal to the floor does nothing to "clear flood" the engine. That only works on modern injected cars.

I know it sounds strange but the procedure for starting/clearing our carbureted cars when flooded is to hold the pedal to the floor allowing in more air. This is a manufacturer recommended procedure and can be found in the owner's manual on page 11. When I was a young mechanic back in the late seventies, I helped many a stranded driver by using this method.

That does work. Just don’t pump. That lets in lots of air and eliminates any more fuel being added since there is no vacuum and very little air velocity to pull fuel from the jets

You guys should've heard the backfire too... I thought I killed her!
I've never done that before...flooded it. I'm only 5 years older ...but mentally she's in better shape.

Yes Barnbird... I'm so attached to this car... abnormally, really.

Running smoothly again today.... whew.

I don't want to rain on your parade, but it's very common with a large backfire to possibly damage your mufflers and or resonators if you have them. to check first visually inspect the body for any distortion or a bulged puffed out look. The next thing to check if to see if any of the welds or crimps let go on the inside for the baffles. This is easily accomplished by smacking the main body repeatedly hard with the side of your fist and listening for internal rattles. When a baffle is loose you end up with a weird rattle/buzzing sound that usually only happens at certain rpms.Hopefully yours is well. And I don't blame you, who wouldn't be attached to a low production H.O. 4 speed car.

Thx BB-- I did take a look... no rattles or bulges, hopefully ok.
Was very angry with me I guess!

I had a similar issue with my Sprint where every once in a while, it would smoke and run rough on certain startups. I began to think my carburetor was leaking down into the manifold and causing it to run very rich. I am converting to EFI, and noticed my startups are much cleaner now, without an extreme gas smell and no smoke. Antidotal at this point but there seems to be some evidence that was the cause.

Started yesterday again without over pumping. No backfire, but it was 35 degrees in the garage, so cold=rough and smokey I think. once it warmed it idled smoothly and smoke free, even when I gassed it a little.

Moral of this story, "Dont flood your motor, especially when its cold." ...you moron.