The purpose of the carburetor faceplate cover and gasket is two fold. One is to keep anything from flying into the carburetor throats and from there into the intake manifold (unlikely but it has happened). The other is to keep the fuel mixture from dripping from the carburetors into/on the hood pan (messy).

What drips in that area when it's sealed properly will travel into that short line you see attached to the faceplate a$$embly and into the bottom main bearing area to be recycled to the cylinders via other passageways.

Your problem appears to be a failed fuel pump.

Do this..... Pump the fuel line fuel bulb while the engine is running, acting as a manual fuel pump. If the engine continues to run as long as that bulb is pumped, then obviously either the fuel pump is faulty OR the pressure line leading to the crankcase is broken or disconnected, however IF that pressure hose is broken or disconnected, there will be quite a loud noise (explosion) coming from it while the engine is running.

I got in a fuel pump today and it definitely repaired the problem. Cranked right up. Purrs like a kitten. I'm having a cooling issue now but I will probably get more answers if I begin another thread.
Thanks for all of the help. It's nice to have some agreement on your suspicions before you buy parts.