the metering rods & springs are like a power valve they increase enrichment under low vacuum allowing the rods to rise & more fuel to enter , the heavier the spring the earliewr the rods rise , if the spring is too heavy & the vacuum too low the rods will nto stay down at idle causing a rich & poor idle quality.
None of this has anything to do with the secondary opening , the secondary opens when the engine creates enough air flow to pull open the counterweighted flaps in the rear venturi , this is solely determined by the balance between air flow & weight holding them closed , . in every carb I have worked on I have drilled a 1/4" hole in both counterweights at the furthest distance from the pivot shaft to decrease weight so the flaps open sooner , so far I have never encountered a bog doing this so I am Sure more weight can be removed but what a pain in the butt to do it , & when you go too far you r better have either a welder handy or thread the hole & insert a bolt , Holley had a better Idea with interchangable springs , or the AVS & TQ with an adjustable spring on the air flap