My /6 is a gas pig when it's cold outside. Why?

Wow, thanks for the added replies.

I went up in my loft and found the old dual snorkel air cleaner form my 70 Charger (running a chrome edelbrock on Charger now) and robbed the manifold heat sensor from it. Bench tested per 70 Charger FSM and Chiltons and it worked ok and worked on the car like it should. Flap is up when engine is cold down when warmed up. Can't buy one of those anywhere so it was a score.

I also spent time working with the choke cam, filing the steps and screw end for smoother movement and it seems to come off the choke sooner (within 2 miles versus 3)
I also got a new choke t stat from rock auto, actually an nos tomco electric unit, j.i.c.

The choke on it now is the old school well type situated in the exhaust manifold.

I had rebuilt the carb last year and had a ***** of a time getting the float setting right without the float guage. As I recall the wet fuel level was just shy of spec (1 or 2 32" lower) but it ran good and didn't flood so I wasn't gonna risk taking it apart AGAIN and ruining the bowl gasket (and having to buy another rebuild kit just for the gasket). I had the bowl off too many times to mention.

This car has absolutely no emissions junk on it. Vacum advance goes straight from ported vacum to distributor and functions as it should. Egr is blocked off. Distributor is brand new points unit (repl by previous owner). Basically it's old school. Carb has no emissions solenoids or anything.

It's supposed to be cold tomorrow morning so I'm going to see if the things I've tried per your suggestions so far make a difference.

As for the pinging, yeah, full throttle would induce it and would climbing a hill on the highway, typically in the 2,100 to 2,500 rpm range. 2.76 gears, 205 75 14 tires and auto trans. I tried messing with the timing and put it as far as slightly after tdc and it ran good, believe it or not, but still pinged. I did consider that the timing cover or damper may be wrong but I have nothing to compare it to. all my Mopar buddies have V8's as does my charger.