sooty exhaust and lost power

Posted by steve-52/200 On 2012/7/9 13:08:26

Ive been busy ,I replaced the 2 bbl intake and put in a 4 bbl carb as was a popular mod ,and initially was revelling in the new found power as guaged by the big hill on the way home test
Ive replaced the points with a pertronix unit ,got some new spark plug lines

BUT recantly have has a power loss ,,just not the same umph Id achieved ,The settings on the new old stock carb when it went in were diled on by a genuine mechanic
I tightened up the carb screws thinking they might have shook loose on the initiall install ,Ive peen putting super
Il change the a/c spark plugs ,r 45's( today
any reccomendation for the propper gap?)

the CLUE; the exhaust pipe loks like it has soot in it

a MYSTERY (possibly related)
radiator fluid loss ; I cant see any obvious spot where the coolant is going but Ill loose a gallon at a time after a 50 mile round trip commute
the rubber raiator pipes look ok I ,tihghtened up the hose clamps ,the tranny cooler ,looks ok I didnt see any corrosion spots or pin holes ,The radiator has been recored and I dont see a leak or obvious spot on the side of it where coolant is squirting out ,the thermostat housing has an occsional teesy leak but that hsnt changed too much and has been ok for a while ...
how about an internal leak ,like the head gasket ? ?is this my performance robbing effect? , ,I dont see steam in the exhaust but do see soot ,hmmm what sayith the inline 8 masters?
I have a lucious day off to plum this mystery and return the old girl to her prior self
I also habe found some 53 fins ,! I want to install them they are assymetric ,the one side of the fin is longer than the other ,I have to figure out which is r and which is left by if the shorter side faces iward or outward ,anyone know ? How about mr texas fin guy??