inherited 68 cuda, starting issues

That's where I would start, but I have only been doing this stuff for 40 years. :D
A sitting carb ALWAYS has junk in it (dried up old fuel, line rust particles)
Then it settles in the lower sections of the carb where fuel is supposed to flow to the venturi's and idle circuit runners.
Compressed air is your friend here.

If I don't have an air compressor would carb cleaner and canned air suffice? Pull it, spray it, scrub it etc.