HELP 383 big block issues

[dazedand confused]

working on my buddys 69 dodge charger general Lee I'm usually pretty good a fix and modifying mopar stuff including the engines but im stumped on this . it has I believe a high milage 383 4 barrel with dual exhaust . the distributor has been professionally rebuilt and is a points distributor. the carb is a edelbrock that has been rebuilt by me . new plugs , new msd coil for points with an msd ballast resistor for points . I brought the #1 pistion up on compression TDC and checked the timing mark on the balancer . it doesn't seem to be off on the timing marks and I made sure to follow the firing order for the plug wires and the direction of the rotor on top dead center at #1 plug wire terminal. the engine smells like it's running rich of gas with some oil mixed in and what smells like oil out the pipes and it has a random popping sound at idle through the exhaust pipes not the carb ! unless I give it the gas and it caughs a little. I did find a leak between the manifold flang and the exhaust pipe but since sealed it up and no leaks between the manifolds and heads . could the new points be shot ? or plug wires leaking ? I dont get shocked when touching the plug wires? leaky valves ?

 

[Murray]

Lets try to eliminate the possibility of vacuum leaks. With the motor idling- put your hand partially over the carb, restricting the air flow. Does the motor speed up or change in some other way? If the motor speeds up or idles better- you have a vacuum leak.

 

[Jim Lusk]

Random popping out the exhaust sounds a little like 5 and 7 plug wires swapped, but a tired engine can also cause that. Had that on a 340 I recently worked on. It had too much cam and two slightly bent exhaust valves.

 

[67Dart273]

Could also be OPEN plug wires, that is internally burned and not visible. This allows spark voltage to climb high and will cause crossfire to other cylinders.