The best way to adjust the carb

[66FBCharger]

It has been a while since I have worked on carburated cars. What is the best way to adjust the idle mixture screws? Do you adjust for the highest idle speed or do you adjust with a vacuum gauge?
Specifically I am talking about an Edelbrock AFB on a '69 440.

[Cooter]

Get yourself a vacuum gauge first and adjust until you get the highest reading.. Adjust idle mixture screws until you can almost back the idle screw all the way out. If stock, should be able to almost stall engine with idle SPEED screw. Most have the mixture screws adjusted way too rich and compensate for this by running the idle speed screw in further.

[66FBCharger]

Thanks Cooter. I am going to try to find some time to try this out this weekend.

[Chryco Psycho]

start setting them about 2 turns out from the bottom , then with it running turn the screws out equally until the rpm quits rising , turn them in until it just starts dropping rpm again , leave them basically at the peak rpm without excessive extra fuel

[66FBCharger]

I am assuming that turning the idle mixture screws in, leans the carb out. Correct?

[Chryco Psycho]

yes
I would also remove the top of the carb & check the float levels too , they should be 7/16 - 3/8 " at the toe of the float