Thanks for reading, hopefully somebody here a lot smarter than I can help me out!
The issue is the engine was running good, dialing in the timing after putting this all together, noticed chocolate milk for oil removed the intake manifold, replaced the gaskets (I did a crappy job of putting them in thats why they leaked) and put it back together. Now when I start it, it kicks over, runs though the cylinders, almost like one cycle through, and blow backs through the carb, then runs through the cylinders and blows back through the carb and stalls. When it blows back and is a big puff and I see gas shoot straight up.

When I took it apart, I set it to TDC, verified it with a compression gauge on #1, put it back together with TDC on #1 again. what is causing this?? I have checked, rechecked and trippled checked the wiring which is labeled with white tabs, made sure none are crossing, even set it to TDC again and reset the dist just to make sure.

oh I have a 1987 firebird,
305 engine
Edelbrock 1404?/7 intake manifold non EGR
Edelbrock performer 600 cfm carb with elect choke
MSD vac advanced HEI distributor
MSD wires, separated with plastic wire separators no wires are crossed.
This is old school no computer, engine, gas, carb, spark. WTH

 

did some diagnosing,,
- distributor advance vacuum was on the left side of the Edelbrock performer, Edelbrock recommends right side.
- Mallory fuel regulator was set at 3lbs, adjusted it to 6

this last one I think is my actual issue.... totally makes sense after seeing wet plugs.
- No 12v to the electric choke. Ill take a look at the wiring tomorrow and give a report back, but I believe this is my problem.

thoughts?

 

You sure you're on TDC of #1? That's CLASSIC symptoms for a distributor installed 180* out. It'll do the old "I'm acting like I might start but... but... A-CHOO!", as it blows it's nose through the carb.

Other than that, might want to make sure the carb isn't flooding from a stuck/dirty float. But that would be obvious- gas would be spilling out of it as you crank on the starter for a while.

If you think the choke is causing flooding, stick a screwdriver in it temporarily to hold it open and see if there's any change.

 

stuck a screw driver in it, ran like a raped ape... there is no 12v there and when I do hook it up the electric choke to a keyed power souce it wont open, wont budge. Im going to take a resistance reading but I think the electric choke is blown.

 

You're on the road to Wellsville. I think you're on the right diagnostic/repair path.

For temporary, loosen the 3 screws that hold the choke element into its housing. Rotate it until the choke opens fully, just so you can at least drive the thing around until you do the permanent fix.