Can anyone explain to me why I would have rich black exhaust out of the drivers side exhaust and nothing on the passenger? I have checked for leaks but there are none and that inclusing retightening the header bolts. Thanks guys.

What intake manifold and carburetor do you have?

I have a Edelbrock performer intake and a holley 600 4bbl carb.

Not trying to be a smartass, Have you tried adjusting the mixture screws?
Maybe the drivers side is way out of adjustment?
I figure we should start with the basics.

Greg

Are you running stock exhaust manifolds? If yes maybe the heat riser is getting hung up not opening all the way or is stuck partially open/closed not letting the full exhaust flow out the pipe to burn the same color as the other pipe does after cruising on the open road for a while.

Scott

Not trying to be a smartass, Have you tried adjusting the mixture screws?
Maybe the drivers side is way out of adjustment?
I figure we should start with the basics.

Greg

The problem with that is there is no 'driver's side' as far as the manifold is concerned. Each of the plenums feeds two cylinders on each side.

I guess I would have to say the basics in some aspects are quite advanced for me. My 69 is the first car of this sort I have ever seen or laid my hands on. It became quite a tireless hobby for the last two years however military and financial restraints have left me with limited time and experience. So far what I have done to my car is change the headers to ceramic coated hooker headers, changed the fly-wheel, the starter, the entire wiring harness because of two many dead ends and I hate cluttered wires, and finally some minor interior work. I read tons and research everything I do firfty times on here before I do anything. Pratical experience with an engine... zero, sorry to say. So please if it seems basic to you please let me know exactly what needs to be done because I probably haven't done it or know about it. THanks a lot guys for your help in this and being a wonderful community that helps novices like myself.

point taken onovakind... hmmm... ok, next?

Don't worry Colossus, someone will figure this out for you. :)
Just double checking... it is black smoke and smells rich like gas? Not blue right?

Greg

Yes it smells like gas and is black. There is a lot of soot on my garage floor. If you need pictures as well i would be more than happy to submit. Just let me know where you need the pics taken

Did it just start running like this suddenly, or has it been getting worse?
Have you tried pulling the sparkplugs and checking thier condition?
I had a bad plug wire cause a cylinder not to fire and the exhaust on one side would make your eyes burn.

The engine has been running poorly since I had purchased it. Oh, I did change the spark plugs and the wires. I hooked my timing light to each of the wires and see that it was firing... another post told me to do this. The engine struggles a lot to me and someone suggested that my timing chain is stretched because of eratic timing and the car backfires through the carb. I heard that this could hurt something in the carb but no idea what the implications would be. Also I do remember pulling out the spark plug from number 7 and it looked wet like there was oil. I felt it and that's how I figured it was oil. Tomorrow I am going to try and get a friend of mine to come over and look at the engine to see if he can time it. It has mild performace adds like a new manifold, carb, and headers but after that I have no idea. It is set at 16* BTDC. To me this is all a compound issue but I'm trying to figure this all out piece by hair pulling piece.

When your buddy comes by see if he will bring a compression gauge with him. I'd be curious as to what kind of compression you have, and if #7 is lower than the rest.

Greg

Unfortunetly my friend couldn't make it however, I am about to purchase a compression checker. A quick question though. Would gas that has been in the tank for about 6 monthes be a culprit?

Unfortunetly my friend couldn't make it however, I am about to purchase a compression checker. A quick question though. Would gas that has been in the tank for about 6 monthes be a culprit?

Yes, it could. Since the carb has backfired, you might have a blown power valve and that will enrichen the mixture.