Vacuum reading help.

wjajr, thanks for the detailed replies - I do have an audible skip at the tail pipe, it's very erratic, and I also get an unstable needle with a vacuum gauge hooked up, it's usually within a couple inches as noted in the initial post. So with these symptoms do you think a sticking valve is still unlikely?? The rockers all appeared to be receiving oil, I don't notice cylinder #6 receiving less but I can check again.

If not a valve problem, what are some other possibilities?
So far I'm hearing carb but with not much other specific details - as my jets seem clear...
What are the odds of a dying fuel pump, maybe just fuel starved when engine is warm and choke is open all the way?