I have noticed little by little more and more smoke at start-up, especially cold starts.  Changed the oil the other day and the smell of gas in the oil was very strong. After oil change almost no smoke at all. I was told it was most likely my fuel pump leaking. Anyone run into this problem? How can I tell if it is the fuel pump and what is a good replacement? Thanks 

While it's possible the fuel pump is leaking, generally if it is, then you would have fuel leaking on the outside, also. Look at the fuel pump while the engine is running. There is a hole on the side of the pump, towards the rear: this is the "weep" hole. If the fuel pump diaphram is leaking, you will see fuel running out of this hole. If you see fuel, or evidence of a leak there, it needs to be replaced. You can get a replacement pump at just about any auto-parts house, or from one of the sponsor/venders here.
Another cause could be that the carb is leaking fuel into the engine after you shut it down, whether due to a float that is adjusted too high, or internal leakage.
What color is (was) the smoke you saw?
Black = fuel
Blue/grey = oil
White = water Adams' Apple38533.8788425926

I ran into that once with a Studebaker Avanti I once owned. The diaphram in the fuel pump broke and literally dumped gasoline into the crankcase. As I was driving I suddenly lost power, the rpm's went way up and lots of smoke poured out of the exhaust.

Replacing the fuel pump wasn't tough, and it sure cleaned out the engine for an oil change!

There are rebuildable fuel pumps on the market and new, non-rebuildable fuel pumps. These are both oe replacement units...depending on price, I'd opt for a new one (though once I found a defective new pump). You can also buy a Holley, Carter or Edelbrock performance fuel pump. If you've built your engine up, one of these would be the way to go. Otherwise an oe replacement pump is all you need.

Longhorn,

A leaky carb was my cause for gas leaking into the oil. 

Everytime that I tried to start it, I had to crank the engine until the carb filled up again. 

Once the carb was rebuilt & epoxy plugged, she start right up no matter how long she sits.

I had to change 5 quarts of Mobil 1 & a filter after 103 miles.

Good luck,

Anthony

Thanks for the input guys. Before I changed the oil, when I first started it up, a lot of oil (blue) smoke would come out and gradually stop unless I reved it up. After changing the oil, almost no smoke at start up...yet. Also when I turn left or right and gas on it, sometimes, well, most of the time it will flood out and stall. Then it belches out a cloud of black smoke, catches up and run normally. Sound like mostly a carb problem? As for the fuel pump, a couple of  dirt track racers were sure the diaphragm was be letting gas into the crankcase.  Maybe I should ghet another fuel pump and a 600cfm carb instead of the 650cfm I have now?  Another day...another problem

A rebuild of your present carb would help the driveability problem, and it's cheaper than a replacement.  Just make sure the guy doing the rebuild knows what he is doing.

I have seen several fuel pumps leak into the crankcase.  But it could by just dumping from the carb when you shut down the car.

If its a Q-Jet it could be a stickey or bad float or if its a Holley it could be a bad power valve, a 600 would work but if where me I would opt to keep the 650, its easier to make a larger carb smaller than to make a small carb bigger, a 650 in shape should work fine on your engine.