Thanks Wolfgang! I did pull off the valve cover and checked the valve clearance and the head bolts and all was good.
I checked all the exhaust ports and all is good and tight.
I played some more with the carb linkage and idle and air adjustments to make sure they were in sync but not a lot changed.
I worked a ton on VW engines in my high school and college days, but they were all had a single carburetor. May be time to take it to some who know what they are doing😩.