I'm confused over the same issues Roger mentioned. There should be sufficient gas in the bowl at all times to stab the pedal once and shoot some gas into the intake, regardless of what happens to the gas in the line. Then you say you have to hold the gas pedal down all the way which, again as Roger said, usually indicates a flooded condition, needing air to clean it out.

When the car is dead cold the next time, remove the air cleaner and have someone depress the gas pedal while you look into the carb throats with a flashlight. You should see two angled streams of gas shooting down each of the two front bores. If you have that you have something else going on, like timing, weak spark, vacuum leak, etc. If the motor is fairly healthy and has good spark, just a little gas into the carb throats is enough to fire it up.

Those Edelbrocks are about the most forgiving, troublefree carbs out there, so I am thinking you have something else going on.

Don