Hard start & poor off-idle acceleration

[edhtrd71]

Make sure you have proper voltage to the coil which should be battery voltage during cranking and a little less when running due to resistor wire. You have done a good job of eliminating lots of parts. It does sound like a lean condition because rich would pretty quickly foul plugs with weak points spark output, also the engine would tend to have almost normal power at high rpms and high throttle position. Check the fuel pump with a gauge 3 to 5 psi. Without a gauge run the pump hose to a cup and crank the engine, should fill it quickly. You will know if its bad or not. If it can fill a cup it is pumping enough fuel to start the engine, it doesnt take much pressure to fill the empty carb bowl and doesnt take much fuel to start the engine. The edelbrock has screens inside before the float needle and seat that can clog and are easy to check. If all this is good and assuming timing and all other parts installed correct It sounds like big vacuum leak. You might also check all plugs, they should all look similarly good or bad.