Backfiring, misfire, points, and other ramblings

Fresh V6, new Holley 470TA, Offy intake, stock distributor. I've got a regular misfire on the pass side that often results in a loud (destructive) popping through the exhaust. Fuel is obviously loading up in my exhaust, but I can't figure out why. Compression checks good, although I don't know for how much longer if this persists. I've tried turning the idle circuit all the way down on the Holley. I've jetted the primaries down to 50. I've timed it at 5*, even had a friend with a more sophisticated light check total timing (I think he said somewhere in the vacinity of 32*). I've checked and set dwell to 30*, which actually seems to make it worse; seems to do a lot better down around 26*-28* range. I've replaced the plugs twice, first with Champion, then with AC Delco. I've replaced the wires. I've replaced the fuel. I've readjusted idle circuit for best vac. I've replaced the cap and rotor. I've got plenty of spark; I pulled all 3 pass side boots out of the cap and can hold them a good 3/4" or so away and arc the gap.

1) Could bad points cause a misfire/backfire only on the pass side?

2) Would a bad point gap be causing my dwell to act funny?

3) How would a bad condenser affect this? Aren't they pretty much just pass/fail?

4) Is it just time to pony up for the Pertronix or HEI? I'm thinking Pertronix at this point after counting up the time and money to convert my even fire HEI core.

 

I think I would pony up for the Pertronix for now. Even if it doesn't solve the problem, you'll have a better ignition.

Edit: I think you would be pleasantly surprised how much a different ignition system can help throttle response, acceleration, and keeping it tuned. Enough so to justify buying it. I don't regret my DUI dist. or MSD box one bit. The DUI made a huge difference, and the MSD smoothed things out even more.

 

I bought a new set of points and condenser; going to swap them out after I finish eating supper with my girls.

 

The data would support that hypothesis.

 

Sparky,

Was just reading this in another thread. This describes my problem EXACTLY:

http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1868

Is it possible that I accidentally handed you an even fire distributor that one day in the garage? I know we had a couple out on the bench at one time. Given the fact that the PO thought this was a 231 makes it plausible. Think I need to pull it to be certain, or is there some way I can look down there and see?

 

Anyone have a pic to show the difference between the two? The link in Scott's thread doesn't work anymore.

 

I've had vac leaks cause extremely rich conditions before, plugs dripping wet. Happened on a Chebby and on this motor last summer. They were big vac leaks and easy to tell I had a problem, though, not like that condition you had at all. Both times right at the throttle plate.