Rough running to worse running!

[Keith]

So a month ago I posted a question about a YS carb. on a 51' M38 that I've done all the work myself and have been very proud how well it had been running for about 5 months and all the sudden something happened and changed all that. By all my discriptions and everyones replies I decided to go with its running to rich. I pulled the top of the carb off. I Checked the float gap it was still correct at .25", checked the intake needle, and everything else looked just like it did when I rebuilt it. So I put it back together and its still running rough with black smoke. I started looking at other possibilities checked fuel pressure it was around 10-13 psi.. While it was running I then pulled a plug wire off of #1 plug, had a very strong arc up to 1 inch. Turned the motor off and pulled all the plugs they were all very black and sutty. cleaned them and was running it again, still no change until I tried reving the motor up and BANG! on of the loadest back fires I've ever heard. Now I can't get it to run at all. So I pulled the dist. cap off and find the insulation on the 24v input wire to the coil was cracked and appears to have been shorting out to the dist cap. I repaired the wire, adjusted the gap, and set initial timming. Put everything back together. And it still won't run, I pulled #1 plug wire off the plug again now it will only arc about 1/8" from 1" earlier.
1: Could the wire grounding caused the coil or the condeser to weaken?
2: What should the fuel pressure be?
3: Could the wire shorting out been the original cause? and I just made it worse?

Please help all I want for Christmas is to get it running good again.
So simple yet so frustrating. I hate the domino affect.
Thanks for everthing
Keith

[Stir-stick]

Keith,
I am by no means an authority on these jeeps. I have rebuilt several Y.S. carbs,with positive results. Black smoke indicates too much fuel or not enough air.Sometimes,another new float seat and needle valve will fix the problem. Fuel pressure should be 4 to 5.25 p.s.i. at around 1800 r.p.m..Have you rebuilt or replaced the fuel pump? The diaphragm must be in (down stroke) position while tightening screws,or it will produce to much pressure.This will not help you on the electrical . Sounds like condenser or coil to me.I left ign. switch on one time with engine not running and it cost me a coil.Good luck on that electrical.Merry Christmas,
Stick