I'm having troubling idling when the engine is cold. The car starts easily, but unless I keep a foot on the gas, it dies quickly. I tried adjusting the idle screw without any success. I also tried adjusting the fuel mixture screws (I think this is what they are called) and changing the linkage to the accelerartor pump without any success. If I adjust the idle screw just right, the car idles fair (not fast, about 800-1000 rpm), but if you even think of giving it just a touch of throttle, it dies.
I have the fuel mixture screws adjusted just as I've had them in the past (close them all the way and then back out about 4 turns). I don't feel like I have it set to idle too slow. I set it to idle faster and it dies even quicker.
Sorry to ramble, but the bottom line is that it either won't idle without a foot on the gas, or else if I adjust the idle, it will stay running , but die when you give it just a hint of throttle. The fuel guage reads a consistent 6.
The is a mostly stock long block, 327 ci with a weiand accelerator intake, 600cfm (Ithink) Carter carb. As you may have guessed, I am a tunng novice.
Thanks in advance for any advice.

Is the choke working? I have had two of these carb, one worked fine without a choke, the other would not crank without the choke.

I'm a tuning novice also (17 years old), but from my past experience...my problem with idling was actually my timing. I didn't have it advanced quite enough for my aggressive cam (Comp 270H series), and it always died. Get your timing down where you think it will run well, then adjust the carb accordingly. I'm sure someone with more experience will reply soon.

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"People in cars cause accidents, and accidents in cars cause people"

"Rehab is for quitters..."

Justin LaMora

1972 El Camino SS
355 C.I.D. w/450 horsepower

355 Engine (http://www.geocities.com/elky_1972ss/side_engine.jpg)
Interior View (http://www.geocities.com/elky_1972ss/side_interior.JPG)
My Elky at the Sterling Auto Show (http://www.geocities.com/elky_1972ss/show.JPG)

Sounds like choke problem. One morning, before you fire it up, go out and lift the hood and pull the air cleaner. Then reach down and and open the throttle and see if the choke closes. If not, the linkage could be a little rusted, or it may need adjustment. If it does close, you may need to set the fast idle speed which is done on the right side of the carb. It's a bit hard to find, but you need to find a piece of linkage that resembles a stair step. The fast idle screw rides on that linkage, called the fast idle cam.
If everything seems to work fine when the engine is cold, start the engine. Observe the choke plate. It should pull open about 3/8 of an inch. If it doesn't, the little vacuum chamber that's mounted on the carb near the choke linkage is probably bad. You can pick them up just about anywhere.