Ethanol is actually a cleaner fuel. It will dissolve previous built up deposits in carbs. The "gumming up" issue is those freed deposits migrating to the smaller orifices of the carb.
If there are water deposits in your fuel tank an gasohol will absorb the water into the fuel and your engine...
Check your compression, could be that your getting blow by from your combustion chamber to your block, that would blacken oil quite quickly.
*2 on the engine flush though.
Well the shipping estimator for one 4 pound box came to 107.00 so it looks like i'm going to be getting the parts from JT Outfitters, their shipping quote was only 37.00. JT's windshield weatherstripping is a little bit more expensive at 79.00 for the two pieces on a pre 1974.
***Edit, made a...
Thinking about ordering new windshield weatherstripping from Cruiser Corps:
Toyota Land Cruiser Seal / Weatherstrip - Windshield - 1966 - 12/1974
Is $48 a decent price? Has anyone purchased this, is it good quality?
Try a 50/50 mix of ATF and Acetone, its cheap and it works:
Extracting Broken Bolts, Studs, Extractors, Drill bits, and Taps - PeachParts Mercedes ShopForum
One method not mentioned that my dad always swore by:
Get a large washer for a smaller diameter bolt, weld the washer to the broken bolt through the hole, weld a nut to the washer.
The heat from the weld is focused on the broken bolt, this really does work, give it a try.
So I've cut out the forward part of the rear bed and I'm not sure what I should do for the the extra piece underneath.
I could get a stock piece replicated, or go a little outside the box with some c channel or square tubing.
Thoughts?
Have you checked around your "evaporative emission control device"? Its close to where the fuel filler neck is, three hoses going to a collector, one of them might be cracked or off releasing some vapor.