need help with sooty exhaust problem

[70 RAG TOP]

I have a 383 with a new edelbrock performer 650cfm carb. Engine only has about 200 miles on it.  The carb is as it came out of the box.  All  I did was install it and adjust the idle mixture screws with help of a friend and his vacuum gauge tool.   Engine seems to run well and idle smooth, but there is a sooty residue on my bumper and exhaust tips.  I would assume that this means that it is running rich?  Do you think this can be adjusted by the IM screws or would it require changing the step up rods and or pistons?   Also, I am using a stock dual snorkle type air cleaner housing now, but the carb was adjusted while I was using an open sided air cleaner(like the one sold by edelbrock and Mr gasket) could this "change" in air cleaners cause the " rich" condition?

Thank
Mike

[GreenFish]

I have been dealing with the same issue, my 440 runs rich but i can't seem to figure out why. The thing will choke you out idleing and when you gas it,  it will blow black smoke out the exaust.

[Chryco Psycho]

with the engine idling in gear ,have someone hold the brake , loosen the screws over the metering rods & swing the cover over  , if the rids are up you need lighter springs under the rods , this acts like a power valve & cause a rich condition if they do not stay down , Do you know what vacuum you have aty idle ? It is very hard to set an Eddy carb to compensate for low vacuum , often the idle bleeds need to be restricted which is very difficult to do on an Eddy . are the mixtue screws sensitive or can you turn them a lot before the engine feels the change ?