Classic/Antique Car Repair: 1954 Chevy Pick-up Backfire, volt electrical system, loud pop

Question
I just purchased a 1954 Chevy 3100 from a person who just spent 10 years rebuilding it.  Lucky for me his wife made him sell it!  He has rebuilt the original 235 engine and installed a 12 volt electrical system.  The rebuilt engine only has 500 miles on it.  I warm the truck up in the morning until it comes up to temperature (about 170 degrees) but it still surges when I disengage the choke and start to drive.  Occasionally I hear a single knock when this happens.  Today the truck started to backfire occasionally while warming up.  I'm really concerned that I'm doing something wrong.  This is Alaska but the nights are only dropping to 50 degrees so far. I will put her away during the winter but want to drive a couple more weeks.  I'm a newbie to all of this so start from the beginning on how I take care of this beautiful truck.  Also, any recommendations on a good how-to for this truck?

Answer
There are two things that people call "backfire" and I really need to know which you are having with the truck.

One thing called "backfire" is when flames belch up from the carburetor - making a noise in the engine compartment -you won't see the flame if the air cleaner is in place, but if you take the air cleaner off, you'll see actual flame coming out the top of the carburetor - that is a true "backfire".

The more common useage of the term is when there is an occasional loud "POP" from the exhaust pipe - this is an explosion of unburnt fuel in the exhaust system - it can blow a hole in the side of the muffler, or set the weeds on fire - this is the one that causes people to say they "thought it was a backfire" when they hear a gunshot.

These two events have totally different causes - I need to know which you mean.

Post a follow up question and give me as much information as you can about what exactly you are doing with the gas pedal etc. when this happens.

Thanks,

Dick (who drove a 51 Chevy 3100 with a 54 "235" engine from 1975 to 1994 - a great truck and I still miss it!).