"I noticed after trying to start it for 10 secs or so that you can hear it/see it still putting fuel in the carb with the ignition off and key removed. I also noticed some fuel around the base of the carb where the spacer is at the intake manifold/ and down where the preheater hose connection is. Like its leaking out of the carb somewhere."
The above is not normal at all. As posted in #9, the carb is flooding if you still see gas running into it after cranking for 10 seconds and out of the base. The carb appears to be getting plenty of fuel but is likely flooding. As noted, it may have the needle valve stuck open.
Do this:
1) Just look at the fuel filter. The way it is oriented, it should be full if the pump is working
2) If you want to be sure the pump is working, then take the fuel hose off the carb, direct it into a container and crank for a few seconds while watching. It ought to pump out 1/2 to 1 quart in 30 seconds. It will really spurt out if the pump is working well so be careful.
3) Prop the throttle wide open and make sure the choke butterfly at the top is propped open. Let the car set for an hour so that the excess gas is out of engine. By hand work the throttle one time to full open and then release. The choke butterfly at the top should be closed.
4) Start the car and look real quick; the choke butterfly should have opened slightly at the top. Then use a screwdriver and push the choke butterfly open a bit and see if it will stay running or die.
5) If the carb keeps leaking gas and dying due to excess gas, then you may have to take the top of the carb off to get at the needle valve and float. But, you may be able to pull out the needle valve and clean it by removing the brass nut on the top of the carb where you connect in the fuel line.
