Ok, I have a 305 with the stock carb with automatic choke.

I can't get the car to start cold.

I push the gas a few pumps and it'll start but then get all jerky and shut off, even if i keep giving it gas.

I took off the air cleaner and looked at the choke and it doesn't move...EVER.

It should close by itself if you pump the gas a few times, right?

Well, I do that and it doesn't move. Start the car...doesn't move. Let the car warm up when i finally stays running(idles very low)..choke still just sits wide open.

Any ideas?...I sprayed choke cleaner on it, it moves freely when pushed by hand, but otherwise just sits there.

There is a rod connected to the choke plate on the passenger side, what does it connect to? This seems to be what controls the choke plate operation.

Let's start with the basics:

With the engine cold and before you turn on the ignition, remove the air cleaner and open the throttle slightly. The choke butterfly should snap shut. If it doesn't, check for free movement (sounds like you've already done that). If all that checks out, then there's a mechanical problem.

The rod on the passenger side is what connects the butterfly to the choke thermostat - the black, round piece on the passenger side. There is a shaft that pivots a lever inside the carb that the rod attaches to. Your next step is to loosen the choke thermostat - from the factory, it is held on by three pop rivets, if that's still the case, you're going to have to drill them out. The thermostat bi-metal strip should be hooking on that shaft, and rotating the thermostat housing after it's loosened should put some force on the choke operating lever and open or close the butterfly (depending upon which way you turn the housing). The throttle needs to be open slightly for the butterfly to close, though.

Either the thermostat isn't adjusted right, is unhooked (or one of the connections along the way), or it's broken.

Go here http://www.carbs.net/Quads/E4MC.htm for an expanded picture of your carb. The parts you're interested in are 35, 36, 336, 348, 350, 354, 356, primarily.

Thanks, that's some excellent info.

I did open the throttle and the choke just sits there wide open.

I'll try the adjustments you listed above. Thanks for the link too.