I am leaning towards a carb set up due to the fact that last spring when I bought my Q-jet from 69firebirdman, all I did was take it out of the shrink wrap, set it on the intake & hook everything up. I never touched a screw or anything as I have no clue what I am doing when it comes to carbs.
Could be a carb adjustment. But with it being new I doubt it's anything more than that. I suppose he could have got a bad one but not very likely.