Holley carb leaking fuel after storage

[JH27N0B]

I've discussed here in the past my '71 Challenger 440 6 pack which I had to store "temporarily" in 2016.  The storage situation has become long term as sadly there doesn't seem to be a market for the car.
The car is stored in a building and the guy who runs the storage building has to start it once in a while when he shuffles cars around in the building.  He also got it out for me in spring when a potential buyer was coming out to see it, and last Friday when I finally got out there to swap another of my cars with it so I can drive it a few weeks, burn up the old gas, change the oil etc.
He's getting irritated that when he starts it, it idles poorly and dumps fuel out from the center carb.
After messing with it, spraying carb cleaner in the center bowl etc, it stops overflowing and runs ok.
In fact, it ran fine driving home nearly an hour in crappy Chicago area traffic Friday crawling from light to light on a humid 80 day.
Anyway, he's pushing me to get the center carb rebuilt.  I understand his irritation and concerns about the gas overflowing, but I don't think rebuilding the carb will stop the float from sticking after the car sits 4 or 5 months.  I'm convinced that is what happens, and it's the nature of the beast.
Any ideas on preventing this beyond driving it regularly, which isn't possible here over the winter months even when I had it in my garage?

[RUNCHARGER]

I have never personally used the stuff but have you tried that stuff called Sta-bil in the fuel? I sure wish I could afford to rescue that one from you.

[JH27N0B]

I always put Stabil or Seafoam in the tank before storage.  I also put some 100LL in the tank so the gas is a brew of gasohol pump gas, 100LL and some stabilizer.
There is no alcohol free gas available anywhere around here or I'd use that.

[1 Wild R/T]

Sent it out to California & I'll drive it for you a couple hours a month all winter.....  Better yet, pack up & get out of Chicago.....  I like visiting but wouldn't want to live there...... Course I could say the same about California..... At least we have decent weather...

[JH27N0B]

Wire me some money after we negotiate a price, and we can figure out how to get it shipped out west for you Randy! 
It deserves a nice climate to call home with its super clean original sheet metal.
I'm plotting a move in the next few years, but probably just to an adjacent state.  I can't afford the taxes and government in IL, so CA won't work out for me either sadly.
I'm wondering if there would be a easy way to run the carb dry before shutting the car off before sitting, so the bowl isn't full of gas getting gummy and varnished when it sits. 

[screamindriver]

    Unfortunately there's no way to keep the gaskets,O rings, etc... From eventually drying out or dry rotting from extended slumber times.. And a 6 bbl is three times the fun...I get more life from the alcohol resistant holley accelerator pump diaphragms and the blue non-stick gaskets.. I keep a bunch of premium O rings and the viton tipped assemblies in stock and simply pull the needle/seat assembly to R & R it when it starts to act up like you're describing...
      After owning a 6bbl car you'll realize it's not a matter of "if" but a matter of when it's going to happen... I NEVER simply jump in a 440-6bbl car and fire it up after an extended slumber you need to watch for trouble...Why there's a big potential gasoline pond under the accelerator pump has always been a question of mine...I'm old enough to remember how many carb fires these cars threw at you when they were practically new daily drivers let alone the occasional use most get now...
   

[Chryco Psycho]

If it is just the needle & seat you can swap it from the top & install a full steel one so it is less likely to stick but it sounds more like the float is sticking down , , it is not hard to get to but you have to pull the rear carb first to get it out

[WCC]

After owning a 6bbl car you'll realize it's not a matter of "if" but a matter of when it's going to happen... I NEVER simply jump in a 440-6bbl car and fire it up after an extended slumber you need to watch for trouble...Why there's a big potential gasoline pond under the accelerator pump has always been a question of mine...I'm old enough to remember how many carb fires these cars threw at you when they were practically new daily drivers let alone the occasional use most get now...

Now you have me worried. Is there anything specific you check before firing up?

[screamindriver]

After owning a 6bbl car you'll realize it's not a matter of "if" but a matter of when it's going to happen... I NEVER simply jump in a 440-6bbl car and fire it up after an extended slumber you need to watch for trouble...Why there's a big potential gasoline pond under the accelerator pump has always been a question of mine...I'm old enough to remember how many carb fires these cars threw at you when they were practically new daily drivers let alone the occasional use most get now...

Now you have me worried. Is there anything specific you check before firing up?

Not so much before the fire up other than a quick look...It's more about the time right after the fuel bowls fill and it fires... I'll shut it down and do a walk around looking for leaking bowl gaskets,overflowing fuel down the carb throat,leaking accelerator pump diaphragm etc...My buddy had a bad habit of just jumping in his and had no clue there was something wrong until the hood buckled and burned the paint...

[WCC]

After owning a 6bbl car you'll realize it's not a matter of "if" but a matter of when it's going to happen... I NEVER simply jump in a 440-6bbl car and fire it up after an extended slumber you need to watch for trouble...Why there's a big potential gasoline pond under the accelerator pump has always been a question of mine...I'm old enough to remember how many carb fires these cars threw at you when they were practically new daily drivers let alone the occasional use most get now...

Now you have me worried. Is there anything specific you check before firing up?

Not so much before the fire up other than a quick look...It's more about the time right after the fuel bowls fill and it fires... I'll shut it down and do a walk around looking for leaking bowl gaskets,overflowing fuel down the carb throat,leaking accelerator pump diaphragm etc...My buddy had a bad habit of just jumping in his and had no clue there was something wrong until the hood buckled and burned the paint...

Thanks. Do you do this each time or only when firing up after a lengthy stand? I normally ride every week or at least bi-weekly but have never done this.

[JH27N0B]

I've driven the car a number of times since I retrieved it and not surprisingly it's been fine.
I have to take in back to storage in a week or two.  What's the best source for a steel needle and seat, and Holley seals?

[HP_Cuda]

Summit racing should have everything you need.

Letting it sit that long just invites problems. It really needs to be driven more.

[YellowThumper]

One thing I do on mine is to crank it over for a bit withoit starting it to ensure there is fuel in the bowl. Wait and then see if there is seepage. If nothing is showing then move on to the fire up. And watch again while everything warms up.

Mike

[BIGSHCLUNK]

I've used a combo of Stabil and marvel mystry for years.... (like  over 10) never had an isuue 

[JH27N0B]

Sadly driving the car more often isn't in the cards now.  When I had it in my garage it still sat 6 plus months every year due to our too short driving season.  And now it's stored in a building close to an hour away where I have to get planets to align with my schedule, my friend who manages the buildings schedule, and weather to get at it. I like the car a lot but wish I could find a new home for it with a buyer who'd drive it regularly.
I talked to someone over the weekend who said he put race gas in the tank of his car when stored and in 6 years never had an issue.  I have access to av gas so maybe storing it with just av gas would help.