[DEZROCKS]

Adam Id get a light and set the timing at about 38deg. total that should be a good start,(im asuming it a S.B.C.)! Setting by ear,,,backing it off till it dosent start hard will get you close but there is so many other thinks that can affect the way it starts( starter, batt, bla,bla,bla bla bla,)!
The carb couldnt be that bad, it's just fuel and air! Ive never personaly worked on a Edelbrock carb, but ive fooled around with a butt load of Q-junks & Holley's alcohol and gas and severall alcohol fuelinjection's So it cant be that hard! As fare as jetting it,cant really do that foot tuning it, that thing has to have some kinda Ideal adjustment screw and a air screw's on it! Doesnt it? get it where it will ideal, screw the air screw's (one at a time) IN slowly till it starts to choke then BACK it out till it does the same and set it in between those two point's, then do the other's (asuming there is more then one)! Then just work them both alittle in and out till it sound good! Wack the throttel a few time during these adjustment's and that should get you pretty close! Know setting the float leavel Id have to see the carb. before I would get into all that! That should get rid of the fire in the exhaust, which can be the timing out of wack, raw fuel geting it the exhaust, or the valves could be not seating, or adjusted to tight!
Just try the timing and the carb tuning and I bet youll see a big difference!