Rebuilt Street Averager starting problem

needle and seat are not holding and draining back to fuel pump.

This is not possible, being the needle and seat are above the float.....here is a link to a forum, a guy was having pretty much your issue, come to find out the gaskets in his kit were not correctly made...…

Holley Carburetor Leaks Fuel out of Primary Bowl into PV cavity - Hot Rod Forum : Hotrodders Bulletin Board