while adjusting my choke today I noticed faint wisps of smoke coming from union where the manifold meets the engine. I shut of the car and upon closer inspection found solid black carbon at the 2, 3, and 4 runners there against the head.
I had a rebuilt engine put in my car 6 mos ago and the guy also installed a 2 barrell carb and manifold, ie I don't have any experience with manifolds.
can i just tighten the manifold at the 2, 3 and 4 spots? what would be the best way for me to proceed?
thanks to doug dutra by the way for his choke adjustment article.

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God took you away, then brought you back to me.

Certainly any loose nuts (e.g. all of us on this board! ) ought to be tightened up, but it's very easy to overdo it. Tightening the manifold beyond the correct torque of 10 lb-ft. will cause the manifold to crack over time, and it's easy to overtorque the nuts and break off the studs (a real pain in the neck). Sounds like the manifold wasn't checked for warpage before installation

One of these gaskets will make a good seal much more likely.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

sounds like my best bet is to check these with a torque wrench, make sure they are at 10 ft lbs, and if so, then i need to take her back to my mechanic and have him install a non warped manifold.

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God took you away, then brought you back to me.

Or at least a thicker gasket, if the existing manifold isn't too badly warped.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.