Im thinking I may need to rebuild this thermoquad. It started up with the turn of a key, let it idle a few minutes. I messed with the idle mixture until I was able to get vacuum up to around 17 with choke held off and at low idle. After a few minutes I shut it down and checked opened up the secondaries. Looking down into the bore, I can see liquid has running down into the intake. This probably explains my difficulty with hot starts.
Based on my research, I suspect either the bowl is cracked, or the orings under the jets are shot. Fun times.

 

if the carb has done any sitting with old fuel it will most likely need it. i know if it was a holley it would likely be a float issue on the secondaries but not sure on a thermoquad. you may just have to pop the top off it to see if there is any obvious issue with it. too bad you didn't live closer. i even have a quadrajet sitting downstairs on a old 360 intake that you could try out for me lol. i bet it leaks but it might run a engine decent,

 

Apparently the QJ has orings under the jets, which I didnt realize. I took it all apart and cleaned everything out, but never thought to look under the jets. Apparently pretty common for them to get missed. I ordered up a rebuild kit, so hopefully I can get her tuned up. In the meantime though, I have plenty of body work to keep me going, and it still drives well enough to move it around the yard. So thats a bonus.
Thanks for the offers though... if this doesnt work then maybe I will hunt you down... I would be happy to try out your fitech for you too if you want ahaha

 

sounds good
lol i bet you would lol. it was actually working pretty good up until the cam wiped a lobe or lifted failed. i really can't wait till the warm weather gets here to swing it onto the elcamino. i bet you probably got the couple inches of that white crap where you live also this morning. was not expecting it here. so much for spring