273 4bbl, carb replacement?

Hey all, looking for some advice! I have a 67 Dart GT running a 273 with an Edelbrock 1404 500 cfm. (Not sure on cam or engine internals, as modification from a 2bbl was done by a previous owner.) Car is running kinda hot (mainly when stopped in traffic), stalls sometimes on acceleration from a stop, and seems overall anemic in performance. Mechanic said the carb may be bad, and engine overall is a bit "tired" (car had sat non-running for almost 5 years before I got it.)

Has had new water pump, radiator, thermostat, 6 blade steel fan put in, shroud, and system flushed...all that helped, but still running a bit warm.

So, does this sound like a carb replacement issue? (Looking at about $350 to get a new 1404.) And if so, should I go with another 1404, or something else? If a 1404, should I go with a manual or vacuum choke, and mechanical or vacuum secondaries?

Also, any other advice for getting some more power out of it on a shoestring budget? Running gear is a 904 auto, new 3.55 gears.