Quoting Greg Graham <gregtx@xxxxxxxxxxx>: The not perfectly fitting gasket would not prevent the car from starting, but you do need to clean it up and remove all gasket material from obstracting the air flow. I would suggest you buy a can of starting fluid (ether) and see if the car will start with it. If the car runs on starting fluid, then certainly the carb is not functioning. If the car does not start with starting fluid, your problem is ignition. By the way, a properly functioning carb should be smelling gasoline when you pump the gas pedal many times. D^2, 2x68's, Austin TX