Well, I "WAS" having fun at the strip until something broke...

Was pulling some great runs on the 125 shot, 11.7, 11.8 and then 11.6. On the third qaulifying run...12.0. WTF! Turned down the run off to get the slip, the car was running a little off. Half hobbled it back to the pits, opened the hood, started pulling plugs and then noticed the line off the fuel pressure regulator. Oh ****, pulled all the plugs, some scorched, some almost looking dark, possibly fouled. Pulled the distributor cap off, all contacts were gunked up, almost no copper even showing on some. I then checked oil and coolant for possible blown head gasket. Everything looked fine there. Started the car back up after connecting the hose and idles fine but rough, give it gas, it goes up the RPM range but stumbles a little all the way up.

What do you think happened? I'm getting a new cap, rotor and plugs tomorrow morning. Do you think when the fuel line came off I was running to rich/lean and screwed up the ignition system (rotor, cap, plugs), or did I melt a piston or two? Any input would be much appreciated. My link in my signature has all the crap on the car. I'll post my new best time slip shortly. Basically, an 11.6 at 120 mph. I also had 4* timing out, normally at 16* advance, so basically 12* advance on the 125 shot. I didn't feel like I was taking the motor to the max, and felt I was being conservative/safe.

Thanks guys.
 
well when the vacuum line came off the FPR you went rich since a low vacuum condition on the FPR means WOT. What took the line off? Well a backfire can cause it or just a loose fitting hose. 12 degrees of timing with NO2 seems like a lot to me but I do not use it on my Stang but did use it when I was much yonger on my carbed car. Well replace the plugs, cap, rotor and then test recheck timing and let us know. Could be you just needed a tune up all along.

Allen
 
Well, put a new cap, rotor, and plugs on...no change. Tomorrow, my mechanic friend's coming over with a compression tool. He really thinks it's unlikely I dmaged the internals. When I fired the car up I smelled a lot of fuel but no unusual smoke coming from the exhaust. He thinks it could be an injector, coil pack, or maybe even plug wires. The compression test through at least will tell me if I'm really screwed.
 
Same thing happened to me, you should INVEST in a fuel pressure safety switch. Saved me. The spray wasn't working then I investigated and the line blew off the regulator, but since the fuel pressure didn't rise the switch prevented me from spraying.
 
What was the problem...or did you have the fuel pressure safelty switch in place when the hose blew off? I'm pretty sure the Zex nitrous management unit is supposed to know when the air/fuel is way out of whack and stop the system since it connects to the regulator.