The 35 currently has about 6k miles on it..a stock 350 (generally) and it seems to have lost it's punch. I have noticed soot in both pipes but it doesn't seem to be missing. I haven't pulled the plugs yet and haven't played with the eldebrock 650 carb yet. Any ideas on my sooty piped baby??
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Home to Lugnut!
NSRA,GG,Doughnut Derilects,CRS, Trophy Whores,etc,etc...
Charter Member: Dipstick Street Rod Association

You describe your 350 as generally stock.
Does that mean you're running a hot cam?

If so, your engine vacuum levels will be low at idle and low speeds.
Stock cams idle with vacuum at 17-19"
A hot cam of 280 degrees advertsed duration will result in vacuum levels of 10-12".

Most times the as-supplied metering rod springs will be too strong for the lower vacuum levels.
Which means the metering rods are coming up at idle and low speeds creating an overly rich condition.

Vacuum holds the metering rods down and the springs raise them up.

Substitute a lighter metering rod spring in both sides to alleviate the early rise of the rods.

As far as the engine having lost some punch and assuming compression etc. is up to snuff, have you recently reset the initial timing?

And perhaps shot the timing with the distributor vacuum line connnected?
If so, you'll end up with not enough advance - if the vacuum line is connected to full time vacuum as it should be.
Disconnect and plug the vacuum line, with the engine idling below 600 rpm, shoot the timing and bring it back to the desired initial setting.
Reconnect the vacuum line and see how it runs.

You can shoot the timing with the vacuum line connected to see if it's working ok.
Don't worry about what may seem to be an overly advanced condition at idle and slightly above idle.
As soon as the throttle is depressed, the vacuum controlled component of the overall timing is retarded and the centrifugal advance will have the timing where it should be as it follows the engines rpm.
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C9

Also , Clean or replace the sooty spark plugs.
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WPoC

Amen! I finally fired my car after I replaced plugs last week, and drove it last night. The ones I took out were nasty. The difference is like day and night. I also stepped up to the next hotter plug, seems to have worked. I was grin'n ear to ear when I pulled out of the convenience store, lit them up in first and second.
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Director Of Entertainment/ Recreation
Dipstick Street Rod Association
Lower Susquehanna Chapter

No wonder I heard all them sirens! Ya musta had MD and PA all over ya! huh..LOL
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Lower Susquehanna Chapter Member of DSRA - DSRA Mid Atlantic Division P.R Associate for Lugnuts 2003 World Tour..Coming to a City near you!

Sooty tailpipes often occur with usage of many of the "premium-grade" gasolines on the market today, even if mixtures are correct. It does not always indicate a problem. ....I forgot the chemistry behind the reason, but I know it is a fact on several of my vehicles. ....Check out some late-model efi vehicles, and you'll see soot on some of them.

Sooty plugs, on the other hand, are more indicative of mixture or ignition problems, and should be corrected.

If you are indeed running way too rich, you can wash the lubricant from the cylinder walls and VERY QUICKLY wear the rings and bores! ......Yup, that's the voice of experience talking!!