thought she was a goner... smoke.. under hood

[NOPHO84K30]

Went to start it up it turned over i stoped it didnt start pooof smoke. It came from what looked like out of the air cleaner no backfire though pulled air cleaner off it smelled like something burned in it. Didnt smell like a wire fire i looked at all the wires there still there. Waited a few started it again with no air cleaner and it fired up and ran fine. Idk it did have some gas or oil on the top and bottom of the air cleaner on inside. Idk scared the pants off a me... seems to be fine now. Any ideas

 

[PrairieDrifter]

My 79 caught fire one time.... it turned out that the main wires going to the starter behind the head melted from touching the manifold and then started on fire, it started after that and ran fine. Did you check those wires?

I would think that if the smoke did come from the carb you should have been able to hear it backfire.