Backfire and black smoke

I’ve just taken my newly restored petrol series 3 for a 5 mile run. It ran really well but on return it is making massive backfires and emitting black smoke. I also noticed that the engine is very hot but the radiator cold. Any Ideas?

Have you got any water in it? Is the fan belt slipping?

Yes, full of water. Think I might have found the backfire problem, I think the distributor had moved round by 45 degrees, I’m assuming that would make it backfire? Strange that it ran well right up to the end of the journey.

Demelza said:

Yes, full of water. Think I might have found the backfire problem, I think the distributor had moved round by 45 degrees, I’m assuming that would make it backfire? Strange that it ran well right up to the end of the journey.

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That would certainly do it, sounds like someone forgot to tighten the bolt on the distributor when setting the timing. I don't know why the engine would be very hot with a cold rad though unless there is something wrong with the water pump, a slipping fan belt or a blockage or airlock somewhere.

Could well be a duff thermostat [ there are new ones that are ] Is the heater warming the cab?
Had this issue with my Ninety just the other day, running the heater flat out and driving gently got me home without temp going off the scale, like you only a few miles. Boy my feet were hot though.

No Thermostat

It did have a thermostat and it was stuck. Thank you tot tot.

Your welcome.