Holley Problem

Got a used Street Avenger & noticed it was a little weathered. I installed new gaskets & a few other misc parts. Able to start up no problem, but it dies in gear.I don't think the Choke is working correctly. I can turn the choke housing & it doesn't seem to cause any difference in rpms. When I start the engine cold the rpms stay around 1000 in park & drops to around 700 or so in gear. Engine dies unless I really have it warmed up before I drive. I tried rotating the choke cap counter clockwise to leave the choke on longer but no change. Even tried the other way, no change. The manual says there is a screw for the fast idle cam? There is no screw by the choke housing. I guess it's missing or maybe this is an older street avenger & it didn't come with one?
One last thing it doesn't seem that the choke plate closes at all. Everytime I look at it, whether engine cold or not, the plate is wide open. I try to push it where it's open only a hair, but when I take my hands off the plate goes back to the fully open posistion.
I had a double pumper on the engine & the choke plate is the same. Wide open, but I don't have to warm it up as long in the morning before I take off.
There is no choke on the DP.
Also, I have no choke inside the car anymore.
thanks for any help

The Avenger has the electric choke on it right now, what I meant was the DP had no choke, but I only had to warm it up for 30 seconds or so & I could take off without the engine dying. Since there is an electric choke now, I figured I wouldn't have to sit as long in the morning, but so far I have had to warm it to at least 150-155 before I could drive. I'll check for the screw by the red linkage. I saw the red plastic arm, & I can move it up or down, I didn't see a screw under there when I pushed it up, but I'll keep looking. Sounds like the choke it not working, plus it looks as if there is no screw to adjust the fast idle either.

D.Hearne said:

Sounds to me like you need to richen up the idle mixture, using the two screws poking out either side of the main metering block. The mixture is likely too lean, as opposed to your DP carb. The electric choke is supposed to pop open automatically after you close it manually with your fingers. A Manual choke will not.

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I tried to adjust them yesterday & it seemed to take 3 turns out. Seemed like a lot, but I left them there. I turned them more, but it made no difference, so I stopped when the rpms didn't increase anymore. So if I understand it right, the plate on top of the carb is supposed to be open? I thought I read the plate needs to be closed or almost closed to start in the morning. If thats the case, mine will not stay shut. I pumped the gas before I started & the plate didn't close. It does move freely though.