TOPIC:

the carbs have some copper vacuum "ports" one of which is to provide vacuum to the gas tank which is supposed to be connected to the #3  carb, and two hoses from the vacuum switch valve are supposed to be connected to #1 & #4

I bought a spare set of carbs and the copper port to #4 is missing, I am wondering if it would make a difference if I connected the vacuum switch valve to the #2 & #3 carbs, and the fuel to #1 and just block off #4 (normally #2 is simply blocked)

I guess I will find out, but it would be nice to know upfront if anybody knows the answer
eventually I will change it to how it's supposed to be once I locate another port
BTW, is there a trick to installing or uninstalling them?
also, these are TK carbs if anybody is wondering

All things being equal it should not matter which carb vacuum port is providing vacuum to which device (lean air system or petcock),  As to the missing port tube, as far as I know they are a pressed fitting. 

I was thinking it probably doesn't matter too, but then again 1 & 4 are paired 180 apart and fire together, and so are 2 & 3, so I was thinking that since they put them on 1 & 4, if they are moved they should move as pairs to even out the vacuum or at least keep it consistent with what they did.
or maybe that's just being too anal

It does not matter.

And they do not fire in pairs, even though they spark in pairs. When number one fires, number four is exhausting. When number four fires, number one is exhausting. The same happens two and three.