QUOTE
Theres a damn good reason why new car manufacturers tune to stoich...
Yes - they have water-cooled engines and EPA mandated mpg requirements...
But seriously, there are at least three driving regime numbers you need, not just two, and that makes tuning carburetors a challenge. Lean at idle is good, since there is no load. Keeps plugs clean and mpg good, since if you're sitting still, miles is 0 and fuel flow is something.
WOT - every engine will be a little different (there's that tuning thing again) but something in the 12-13 range is typical. Unless you are driving at Daytona or Talledega, you don't spend much time there.
The other number, the one you feel every day, is cruise. Some steady load part-throttle value probably between 3000 and 4000 rpm. Here is where you really have to pay attention. You get best efficiency at or lean of stoich - but heat is a factor.
This is really a factor on Webers, and -really- on something as big as a 44, because at part-throttle cruise, you're probably not on the main jets yet. So you need idle jets that can keep the engine happy at cruise and not bo so stinky-rich at idle your eyes burn from the fumes...
Go too lean at idle and it'll be hard to get off the line without bogging, especially with 44's. Accel pumps will be your big friends here.