Mike,
Quote: "FOCUS! MIKE, FOCUS! THINK THROTTLE PLATES AND 3.5 POWER VALVES!!!!! "...
I'm the one who needs to focus!
I didn't see that you already installed 3.5's... my name is "DuMass"
I'm with David on the acceleraor pumps. I don't think you need the big ones. He is right, a better approach to messing with the idle would be to adjust the 2ndary throttle plates to see if that will achieve the desired effect before drilling.
Removing the carb and looking for leaks is to check for a blown power valve. I doubt your new valves are blown, but that check couldn't hurt.
You say you got the idle down to 600 RPM? Is it a smooth or rough idle?