Leaking valve cover gaskets?
The soot/burnt oil could be coming from a leaking valve cover gasket. The burn rubber may be coming from your fender wells if your tires are rubbing.
A long block. A short block would be without the heads.
It has both. The difference between a long block and short block is whats on them. A short block is just that the Block with the pistons and crankshaft. A long block would be the short block with the heads and valve cover attached without any accessories attached.
on a vehicle that old and i am assuming that it is carburated would be mounted to the engine block off to the side close to the timing cover!
A block ring holds the engine firmly in the rocket tube. If not for this, the engine would go up the tube and the rocket would go on fire.
I would assume it means a "short block" engine, as opposed to a "long block" engine used with manual transmissions.
There would be block drains located on each side of the block very close to the engine mounts.
The strength of the engine block The 72 would be a better / stronger block.
Sometimes, depending on the severity of the engine, the block can be plugged or welded. Most of the time it would be quicker or even cheaper to get a used or rebuilt engine.
You could have a cracked engine block.
A block heater for that vehicle would be an option. If it came equipped with a block heater the cord would be found close to the battery.
Any crankshaft is inside the engine bolted to the bottom of the engine block. Visually from the outside it would be in the center of the engine horizontally, right where the oil pan meets the engine block.