Hi Nick
I assumed your phone went dead, just heard a bunch of music playing. The smoke is normal after fooling with a bunch of stuff on an engine like that. You said you spilled some trans fluid right. It usually burns off after a few minutes. Of course you are running open manifolds so the smoke will be right by the engine and not out the tail pipe. About the no start thing, I don't know. Check those starter wires like Bryan said. The bat will go dead if it's a week one, especially in cold weather, or if it is not being used daily. Just keep plugging away at it, there is always some bugs to work out. That's part of the joy of working on things. Take a break and get back to it, so you don't destroy the car with a ball bat or something.