Engine: 2.3 Carb B23A/B230K: not a happy girl!

[honestjoe]

morning all..a few weeks back old bertha had the damp start morning symptons so i changed all the usual plugs leads rotor dizzy..no change..so i pulled the plugs and they are very sooty only been in the car for 50 miles..I"m getting worried now..because on start up seems to be only running on three or possibly two cylinders for about 30 seconds then clears and runs although not perfect is useable..this morning i thought she was going to break down completely so i pulled over as engine was getting bogged down..turned it off..started again and was fine for the remainder of journey and got me home..There is no oil in expansion tank and seem to be losing no coolant..no water in the oil..Having a compression test this week..strange symptoms..fine then not then fine..sigh..The sooty plugs might be where i should be looking..any advice will be very welcome..hj..ps erg pipe under the exhaust manifold is leaking badly.