Thermoquad base gasket leak

You got more than an air leak. You got raw fuel leaking, and Thermoquads are known to develop a leak in the mainwells. My advice is to separate the black part out with the carb FLAT on the table, then look into the cavities under where the mainwells are; I bet you'll find gas in there, and it ain't supposed to be there. If so, your bowl is gonna need repair.

We were spraying carb cleaner all over the place and pouring gas straight into the carb trying to get it primed so the gasket being wet did not surprise me. I ordered some paper gaskets so I’m gonna try that first and see where I’m at.