wrenchbender,
yes, there is some soot on the plugs.
i rebuilt the carb myself (it went well and i didn't have any parts leftover :-))using a good kit, and i did check the float and it's not compromised. also, the power piston went up and down easily and i get that spray of fuel when you punch the pedal. lastly, the jet was replaced with the one from the kit.
the advance don't move a lick when sittig still with me manually blipping the gas pedal. i can advance the disto by hand though, so it's not stuck. i have good vacuum going to the advance cause if i remove it the thing idols badly.
would/could bad/stuck disto weights and/or bad/blown vacuum advance cause such poor mileage in your opinion?
i'm sure the valves could use adjusting but they don't chatter.
i have about 22lbs of pressure at the intake manifold at idle so i assume the valves aren't too bad burnt although there is a slight, distinctive burnt valve miss at the tailpipe.
forgive me because this is my first project and i don't know much about disto theory, but i'm leaning towards this, the vacuum advance and the incorrect rottenchester carb as possible problems.
certainly the 1" taller tires cut down the mileage registration accuracy, but if I give a couple extra mpg and i'm still at 8 mpg!
p.s. as for checking mile markers on the interstate, can't do that as i can't go over 40 mph with the tall gears in it now.
