Here is some information that may help,

First off the gasket between the intake and exhaust seals exhaust gases from leaking out, the exhaust circulates around the intake to heat the manifold so the gas vapors stay vaporised. The exhaust does not enter into the fuel mixture, unless your car is equipped with EGR valve, which in '69 its not!

So for now, get the right gasket in place and sealed up. Make sure you snug the intake/exhaust bolts going into the head before you tighten the three bolts holding the exhaust manifold to the intake manifold. Its very important that the intake seals to the head completely.

Now, make sure you have the correct gasket under the carburetor, it should have four small cutouts on the inside evenly spaced around the center bore. These cutouts let vacuum up into the carburetor.

Now, pull the top off the carb and check a few things,

Remove the float and needle and set them aside. Remove the metering rod from the power piston. Back the idle speed screw off till the throttle blades are closed tight up against the throttle bore.

Hold down on the power piston and with the top gasket removed, check the clearance from top of carb body to power piston arm. You should be in the .080" range, bend the power piston arm up or down to get this.

Reinstall the metering rod (check to see that its straight and in the jet). Does your needle (needle and seat) have the small clip on it that hooks to the float? Install one if it doesn't, there should be one or two in the kit. Hook the needle to the float from the inside, not the long slot facing away from the plastic part of the float. The float will not go through its full swing if you hook the needle in the wrong place. The needle should hook between the plastic part of the float and the metal legs of the float. Install the float hinge pin and drop it into the bowl area. Set the float level to .250" from the top of the housing to the tip of the float with no gasket in place.

Install the top gasket and lid and tighten the six screws.

Idle screw should be in the 1 1/2 to 2 turns out range.

A vacuum leak will cause the mixture to go lean, never rich. Check all vacuum hoses for cracks and splits, replace them if you are not sure. Vacuum plugs can be bought at any parts store along with new hose.

If the engine rev's higher then normal, you have a vacuum leak. If it chugs and smokes, you are running rich.

Joe