Fuel issues - carb?

[showbizkid]

So last year I put a rebuilt WCFB on Barney (proper Stude tag number, from a '57 President). Car runs well, idles smooth, but I have some problems.

* Poor gas mileage. Around 8.5 - 9 MPG. Engine has 400 miles on rebuild, with new coil, plugs, wires, newly rebuilt Delco distributor.

* Light but noticeable fuel smell in the passenger compartment after running at speed (say, 60 MPH on the freeway) for a period of time. Noticeable even with the windows open.

* Increasingly harder first-of-the-day starts as the weather has warmed up. In milder weather, the car starts within a couple of seconds and warms up fine; as the weather's gotten hotter, the engine will catch briefly as the starter spins, then the starter will disengage without the engine firing. Takes several tries to get going.

* After warm, engine starts easily.

* A little "poom. poom" audible in the exhaust during high-idle warmup. Not a miss, audible only from the exhaust and not in the engine room.

* If I floor the throttle, the engine bogs.

What do I need to look for? Pinholes in the fuel lines? Wrong metering rods in the carb? Mixture screws set wrong? Help is much appreciated.

[DEEPNHOCK]

Keep it real basic at first.
1) Set the dwell with a dwell meter.
2) Set the timing with a setback timing light (to check to see if the vacuum advance is working)
3) Adjust the carb idle circuit with a vacuum gauge for highest vacuum reading.
4) Adjust the idle RPM (in drive if a/t equipped, and with a/c on if so equipped)
(All the spec's are in the good book)

Then start looking for gremlins, like float setting, fuel pump pressure, and fuel volume, etc.

[StudeRich]

Clark, when the engine is cold (or as cool as it gets there in the Morning!) remove the air cleaner, give the throttle a light tap and observe the choke opening or lack thereof, PART of your problem could be the choke setting, it should be slightly open, and then after a short warm-up, fully open. I think it is over choked. Heat riser in place and working freely?

Some of this condition may be caused by the Alcohol Mix Fuel evaporating in the warmer weather causing a hard (dry) start.

[53k]

Float level too high could account for the poor mileage. I reset my Stromberg WW to 1/32" BELOW factory spec and it drastically improved running.