Honestly, if this is your only transportation, I would consider slapping on a used carb from the junkyard or from a friend and make the truck safe to drive for now. Take the one that is on there and have it professionally rebuilt.
I respect that you want to learn and I am seeing the questions you are asking and eagerly learning. If this is your only mode of transportation, it is a pain in the ass if you replace the accelerator pump, do not put it back together right, and have to take it off and take it apart a few times. Quadrajets can be intimidating, as can any carb at this level for you. Again, not knocking you in any way, simply speaking from having been young and learning as I went.
Once this is rebuilt, take the used one off and tear into it and use that one to learn on.