inherited 68 cuda, starting issues

So should I pull the carb and give it s good cleaning? Starting it and its trying. Definitely getting some burn off at the carb.

That's where I would start, but I have only been doing this stuff for 40 years. :D
A sitting carb ALWAYS has junk in it (dried up old fuel, line rust particles)
Then it settles in the lower sections of the carb where fuel is supposed to flow to the venturi's and idle circuit runners.
Compressed air is your friend here.