@Beast496 beat me to it
If the transfer slots are over exposed, by the butterfly being open too far, it will be running off of the transition circuit not the idle circuit, which will render the mixture screws basically useless.
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An engine will run with them over exposed, but will display poor tuning attributes. Lack of responsiveness to adjustments. An easy way to get an idea it the butterfly if open too far is if you have a vacuum signal at idle on a ported vacuum port. If it’s idling on the idle circuit there will be no vacuum to a ported source at idle. If it’s idling on the transition circuit there will be vacuum at a ported source at idle.
If you have a poor intake gasket seal (large vacuum leak), it will show on a vacuum gauge. Doesn’t have to be idling to check, if the needle bounces from 12-20lbs (this number depends on what vacuum the engine will make, it will vary) to zero being held at a constant rpm there’s some sealing issue, as it’s drawing air through the leak rather than the carb, thus the loss of vacuum signal.
What is known about this engine? You mention it has .03 over pistons, so it’s been over bored, and presumably decked. If it has been decked, there is a potential there is an angular stack up that might promote poor intake sealing, or it the China walls were not machined the intake could be held up by them preventing a proper seal. Lot of potentials here.