1995 Ford Escort Car does not start in Morning

The car is very hard to get started (it turns over but does not start, I checked and there is spark). Eventually, I get it started and it will restart easily as long as I do not have the car off too long (too long being about an hour).

To get it started I usually have to take out the plugs and spray starting fluid in it and also in the air housing. If it does does not start after several attempts, I charge the battery if needed, take the plugs out dry them up, and do the starting fluid process again until I can get it started. The car has an ignition coil - it does not have a distributor.

When it does start it starts hard. There is usually a backfire and white/gray smoke comes out of the exhaust. The smoke comes out for a couple of minutes and then clears up and is not a problem. Nothing else comes out of the exhaust such as fluids. The oil looks fine (not milky for blown head gasket).

It will drive very well as if there has been no problem. It gets plenty of gas. I have driven for several hours with no problem.

I can turn off the car and restart over and over as long as I do not wait too long. Too long might be an hour. Then it will be very hard to start again.

I have replaced the plugs, wires, battery and ignition coil but it does not make any difference. The vacuum hoses are in bad shape. I have replaced some of them that were shredding but not all of them yet.

Extra information - I used to have an overheating problem that I fixed with new radiator fan and thermostat. But I did notice that when starting the car that there the antifreeze overflow reservoir immediately starts to bubble. There is a spot of antifreeze on the front by the drivers side. I have not looked into that yet but when I drained the radiator to put the fan on, the plastic screw broke on the radiator so I think it is that.

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