The engine ran fine when I parked it. A week later when I started it, it was running as if on 4 cylinders. It is a 1969, 350 w/auto. Distributor components look good, plugs are fouled (running rich).

Help!

Thanks - Terry

There's a lot that it could be but:

Did you pull all the plugs? and they are fouled?
And are they wet?

Sounds a bit like a stuck float in the carb or a bit of dirt in the needle & seat.

Condition of your plug wires?
Was it damp/rainy during the week that it was parked?

Bill nailed it so far...the best route to follow is your fuel system for starters.

Pull each plug keeping track of it's location...which cylinder did it come from. Record each plug's color, and if it is wet or oily.

By the way, white is lean, black is rich, brown / dry is perfect, and oily indicated a whole new set of problems.

If you have rich condition plugs on both banks then indeed it is getting too much fuel via the carb. If you didn't change anything else when it was parked then I agree it's a needle / seat or float issue.

How long did it sit?

Have you tried a fuel system cleaner? Clean all plugs and run it with some Seafoam.

I concur. Clean is the first step.

Pull all the plugs, make sure they are gapped and clean to specification.

Then check fuel. Did it rain heavily? Is there a chance you got some water in the tank? That happened to me in May and really ruined my week.

From there, I would make sure all plug wires are good.

When was the last tune up? Does this engine have electronic ignition (K66)? If not, then you have points and condenser issues, perhaps.

And if it DOES have points/condenser, I would consider an electronic upgrade. Pertronix, www.pertronix.com , has stuff for SB Chevy's they have a great reputation in the Ford world.

Almost forgot!!!

Welcome, Terry!