Might there be any visual telltale signs of gunk in the carbs?

Are you trying to talk yourself out of doing all that work? No offense intended because thats what I would do, I'm as good as anyone at talking myself out of work. I always try to get an engine running and figure it out as I go. While four years is certainly a long time, and there is probably varnish in the carbs, you really wouldnt have to take them all apart if they still work okay. The biggest primary issue may be the idle jet as its such a small orifice. But these can be pulled and cleaned with the carbs in place, as can all the jets, needle mixture screws, both venturi's, and the accelerator pump nozzle's. You should also inspect all the jets and that they all match and are of the correct size.

Why not pull the top covers, blast the carbs out thoroughly with cans of carb cleaner, soak all the jets overnight in lacquer thinner, 24 hours is better, blow everything out with air real good and put them back together and see what you have? If nothing else it will be good learning experience for later on. Make sure you use that small hose on the carb cleaner and blast all the passageways. With carb cleaner in the bowls, working the throttle will flush cleaner through the accelerator jets too. If you blast cleaner through the needle jet hole, with the carb fully open and looking down the throat, you should be able to visably see spray through the progression holes. Once your running, clean fuel has a lot of detergents and should clean up anything left behind. When your done, you should follow Birdmans carb sync instructions while reading the OWM. Of importance is to start with the mixture screws turned out 4 1/2 to 5 turns. If you start out too lean you wont ever be able to idle it down properly.


Just be aware if you cant get it running right it may have plugged passageways, and there will be only one way to clean it thoroughly if cans of carb cleaner and air pressure wont work.

If the car hasnt run in 4 years it really should have timing belts.