Carb Blues, Gonna Let It Go

Your PCV or Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve is at the rear of the valve cover. There is a 3/8" rubber hose connecting this to the carb base. The valve mounts into a sheetmetal "hat" which slides onto the rear "stovepipe" on the valve cover. Try plugging the hose and starting the car. If it makes a substaantial difference, thats your ptoblem. A crudded up PCV valve may stick open causing a massive vacuum leak. Vacuum leaks and smooth running engines are mutually exclusive.

The factory service manual is an excelent source of information, but is written for a technician who has basic knowledge of automotive systems. The manual may show a picture of an individual component removed from the vehicle but not tell you where to look to find the part in the first place. Sometimes a little "Where's Waldo" is in order until you become more familiar with your vehicle. The good thing is a /6 A-body is an excelent car to hone your basic skills on. They are straightforward, have robust systems and basic service parts are relatively common and inespensive. Have fun and keep us posted.