The clunk is not SUPPOSED to go to the front of the tank. And that is rarely the cause of dead sticks.

Are you sure that it's not being caused by a bad idle?

It could be that once air is flowing, the carb may pick up some turbulence and not get a proper mixture, or maybe the low end is just set wrong, and once it idles for a few minutes while it's coming down, it loads up, or leans out.