Here's a photo of the carb and it probably is due for a rebuild (looks like a leaky base gasket at the very least.)

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu79/rbosworth/20121010_082302.jpg

Rochester is stamped on the carb. Anyone have a part# for the rebuild kit? Is it something NAPA might carry?

And yes, I'm sure that this won't be as easy to start as anything modern but I've got at least 5 vehicles that are carbed and none of them are as big of a roll-of-the-dice to start as this one is. They all require a bit of cranking but then will fire right over.