318 missing and stalling once warmed up and at cruise

It is running an Edelbrock performer manifold, with 1inch spacer... I and others have thoroughly tested the base plate area several times for the air leakage and no luck... I think (maybe incorrectly) that the air leak is still happening through via the throttle shaft, as when I move the shaft itself I can alter the pitch of the whistle... (Of course the Carby specialist is saying I'm wrong )...
Ok, we're getting somewhere. So you have a spreadbore intake with a square bore carburetor, right?