Working on a Mark 2 2.4L which will not run properly at all and even with the engine not being cranked over, gasoline dribbles through the carbs and into the intake manifold whence it comes out of the drains.

The carbs seemed to flood and the top cover gaskets were wet. So we lifted off the carbs top covers and the fuel levels seemed OK. We then removed the floats and filled the float chambers up to the correct level. Wiped the top joint faces dry and were then amazed to see them become wet with gasoline.
It was as though the castings were acting like a sponge.

Fuel pump pressure checked to be 3 psi. Both floats weigh 6 grams (OK). New needle valves fitted.

On line searching pointed to casting porosity as the culprit possibly caused by aggressive chemical cleaning. Perhaps any sealing compound originally used has been removed by the cleaning.

There are industrial processes that can seal porous castings but I wonder if there are any other easier ways to seal the body.

With all the Mark 1 and 2 's out there somebody must have had this problem before