OK First, the car idles really erratically. Sometimes its totally normal, but most of the time it hangs out at right around 2000. But recently, it started shuddering and dying when I slow down. If feels like when you have the car in too high a gear for the speed, but its not. It always starts right back up, but inevitably dies again. When its cold its fine, except for the high idle. Which leads me to think its the choke, or something with the carb maybe, or maybe the fuel lines and/or pump. Plugs and wires are all ok, and the mass of hoses going in and out of the carb seem to be ok and in the right places. I think I mentioned everything....any help would be awesome, this thing is driving me crazy.

 

test the choke pull off on the top passenger side of the carb. pinch off the hoses going to it, and the choke plate should open.
To run the car with the breather off, plug all the vacum lines on the passenger side of the carb. The one vacum line on the drivers side is a vent.
Check the fuel level in the bowl, sight glass is on the drivers side of carb.
You can look down the carb with the engine at idle and see if it's dumping fuel.
Be sure someone hasn't jacked the throttle cable too tight

 

So it ok to run with all the vacuum hoses on the passenger side pulled out? Or did I read that wrong...