Edelbrock 600 carb issue?

Carb rebuild made no difference. I was extremely careful to clean and blow out all passages and re-install everything correctly, an it seems to be working Ok or at least as good as before. At the best idle settings (set with a vacuum gauge) the motor seems to be running EXTREMELY rich, but on takeoff it acts like its not getting any fuel. Accelerator pump seems to provide a nice shot through all range of throttle motion and of I create a vacuum leak, such as by taking off the manifold vacuum cap or PCV hose at the carb, I definitely picks up rpm (+500 rpm with PCV hose off). It pulled almost 15" of vacuum idling at about 1000rpm in normal configuration. I even drove it without the PCV connected and port opened and it acted the same way. Timing checks out as normal, still likes about 18* initial. I guess the next step is to replace plugs/wires/cap/rotor and see if that helps but I just hate throwing parts or money at this without tracking down the cause. Could the fuel pump be the culprit? It only took about three cranks for it to fill the carb bowls enough to get a shot by cracking the throttle, and I was VERY careful to set the floats correctly. Plus I don't see how it could be the fuel pump if it's acting like it wants gas only at initial throttle and runs better when I mash it. Could this be a mechanical problem like a stuck or bent valve? Is it also possible that a faulty PCV valve could be to blame? I did notice that at one point the PCV was kind of "humming" or whistling and I could feel it vibrating rapidly, yet this was also not steady but came and went. The only other thing I was thinking was either the balance ring has slipped or I've got a broken spring in the distributor.
Needless to say I am SUPER frustrated with this and can't afford to take it to someone else right now and need to fix soon so I can drive this thing to work.
Thanks for the help and suggestions so far! If anyone in the Cincinnati OH area wants to come by and give me a hand with this it would be much appreciated and I can offer you beer and maybe lunch or something. :)
-Tim