I'm in the "get a new mechanic" camp. The carb on my truck when I bought it was off a 78 Olds or Buick. Like you I explored rebuilding it myself (if you need more books on Quadrajets, just let me know
), send it off to someone, etc.
To make a long story short, bought an Edelbrock Performer intake and the guy threw in a Quadrajet that he claimed he bought as a rebuilt carb, ran for 2000 miles in his Camaro then it sat on the shelf in his shop for five years.
I found a guy at a local shop old enough to actually know what a carburator is. He put a kit in the "rebuilt" carb, straightened out the plumbing and linkage now it runs like a champ. I had to give him $150, but as far as I'm concerned it was well worth every penny.