Mk1 gti won't start (carbs are letting to much air in potentially?)

Car will only start with hands over the carbs, runs really lump when it does start and cuts out soon after, has  carbs on but unsure of what type or if they even will work on the car as bought as a project! Any guidance would be muchly appreciated to get it running has 1.8 Kr conversion fitted 

Any help would be much appreciated, anyone near Bridgwater Somerset I could maybe pay to come over to help would be superb as well! 

You are not far from me but sorry I know nothing about setting up bike carbs or Kr engines, TSR is in Bridgwater have you tried calling them for help/advice?

Thanks for the reply!

Yes I have, unfortunately they are a new team now who are more 'technicians' than old school mechanics, they said they don't have the tooling for the job.