Another old mechanics trick to clear the internal passages: get the engine running at high idle, put your hand over the carb throat briefly, vacuum sucks the passages clear.

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

No change. Tiny hole.

Solved! Replaced carb. Now it starts and runs without the air cleaner being in place. I had another carb on a parts car so I took it apart and soaked it in lacquer thinner, ordered a rebuild kit from Mike’s Carburetor, rebuilt it and adjusted it on the bench and “zoom” problem gone.
Thanks for your sharing of ideas. I don’t know what’s wrong with the other carburetor but sounds like it wasn’t cleaned properly by previous rebuilder and something in it is clogged.

When you tear down the offending carb, it would be great to know what you have found...

Thanks.