Im taking my engine apart, to take it out, again... anyway, when i took off what i think is my egr valve (its that circular ufo lookin thing attached to the intake to the passenger side of the carb) there was black soot all around where it attached to the intake. Seems that it was leaking. would this mean that its bad, or just not properly attached? and would that have made my idling problems?

 

Soot and coke accumulation at the EGR valve pintle and seat is not unusual. If it is/was preventing the valve from sealing fully, it certainly would affect idle quality.