Carb Advice

I have a 1970 Dart Swinger 340 that I'm trying to get back on the road for cruise-ins. Have the car 54 years, know it inside and out. Has not be on the street since about 2008. Age and health issues are limiting the work on I can do to get it ready. Found that when I trickle some fuel down the carb it seeps out past a rod/bushing. The carb is old and rebuilt once a Holley 0-80454 600cfm. The recomended replacement Holley is a universal 80457S 600 cfm, electric choke. Not a fan of the chrome ones that are available but the dichromate finish ones are twice the cost new if found. The motor is an original 340, with the old school Edelbrock LD-340 manifold and I replaced the dual-point dist to electronic years ago. Trans is a 727 Torqueflite with a Direct Connection Shift Kit. Fuel is a mix of Sunoco Standard Race Lead (110 oct) and Pure Gas no ethenol (93 oct). Mix is due to the original valves in the heads. Does not like to start easy sometimes after sitting several weeks and will idle in park but gets iffy when put in gear. Pretty sure the carb should be replaced to start with because of the location of the leak, plus don't want fuel on a hot manifold even though it does not seep when running. Any suggestions? Next step is to find someone who has the knowledge to work on these classics. I'm not talking about a Condads, Mr Tire, NTB or the other chains. Thanks. (The overall pic is from the last cruise in '08).

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Hoping you know that most any carb can leak at the shafts if pour fuel in it.
That fuel lands on closed throttle plates making fuel seep out the shaft.
Shafts are not air tight, and it doesn’t leak when running because there is a vacuum there normally.