F--k no! Well my standards are not all that high LOL. My bird is is all about subtle modifications. It looks pretty stock under the hood but the more you look the more you would find that its far from stock. Mine was a 326 2 speed car at one time. Now its a 400 clone and by 400 clone I mean a roller cam 455.

Anyway I still run the Cliff Q-jet and it is a PITA to start. The car sits for long periods of time between drives. The gas in the carb evaporates and it takes some cranking to get running. After it warms up, restarting it is aother PITA due to heat induced fuel expansion flooding it over (at least I think that is what happening). Cranking it several times with the gas halfway down is the only way to get it started.

I have a tempest with a 326 that is all stock and it starts and drives like a dream.

They do make a striped down version of the FItech thats a bit cheaper and throw in a TanksINC gas tank with a nice submerged pump you would be in good shape. You could be a little stealthy with you plumping throw the air cleaner on and not many people are going to notice. I would love to do this with my bird some day. Modern gas in our old cars just sucks IMO.

You never did mention what your starting issue is. If they are anything like mine there are some good solutions out there that don't require FI system. If your having fuel drain back you could just install an electric pusher pump at the tank. Lot have people have done this route too.

If just dont enjoy the car then I would say let it go. It is a very cool car. Its amazing all the peoples reactions when your driving a car like that.