None of the above.  When the float level is too high you get all of what you describe.

okay, i just tore it apart, no trash in the needle/seat, the float is made of foam, so no pin hole and sunk float, the float is set at 1/4 inch on the right side of the float and is a little more than 1/4 in on the left side so i guess the float is a little twisted? when i seated the needle, i notice that maybe 1 in 4 attempts the float would stick in the up postion right at the 1/4 float level, it looks like the front corners of the float are hitting the wall of the carb body. i have had a problem in the past were the car would stall and i wouldnt get any fuel to squirt all of a sudden. could this be the float sticking in the up postion and cutting off fuel to the engine? since it is a foam float does anybody see a problem with clearancing the front of the float a few thousandths so that it wont stick? anyone thinkof any other reasons why i am leaking fuel out of the acc pump plunger? if the acc pump is not adjusted right would it cause it to leak? if my mixture screws are way rich would this cause this leak? thanks in advance

Don't bother with the float...go get a new one. They're about $6 or so...maybe less, depending on where you shop.
The float will soak up fuel over time, and actually swell, which will cause what you are seeing with it hanging on the carb bowl sides. If you try to trim it, or sand/grind, you'll just open up the outer shell, and expose the inner expanded foam to fuel, making an even bigger(literally) problem.
Get the carb number off of the driver side of the main bowl, just behind the linkage...it will start with a 170xxxx(or just 70). Take this number to your parts place and get a new float, install it, adjust it to the correct height, put it all back together, and drive happy.

well, got a new brass float, installed it, i also found out that the clip for the needle was backwards on the float bar, so i reversed that. new base gasket, and she runs really good now, however i think i need some more tuning on the choke /fast idle, until she gets warm she runs slightly rough and a little hard to start, anyone have any good tips or artcles for tuning the fast idle on a 71 quadra? my chiltons manual sucks and doesnt really cover my specific carb i think i got the divorced choke adjustment figured out. thanks to all who have helped me out!!