Nick's Burgers - DKP monthly meeting diner is closed!

After decades, Nick’s Burgers has closed down. It was truly a piece of So Cal VW history. The monthly meeting point for the legendary DKP cruise night.
Luckily, I've been there during my latest US-trip this August, here are a few pics:

 not a VW - but really nice as well:

  

 

carburetor issues?

Today I took the Volksback for a spin, but it ran everything else than perfect...
As the carburetors are basically unserviced since day one I expected a problem here, so I checked the left carb first...

... and I found this: a brass tube on the ground of the housing!?

... which belongs in the cover:

so I refitted it into the cover: 

and while I was at it, I cleaned the float bowl housing from some dirt and slime:

then I assembled everything again. When I thought I was ready I checked the engine bay - just to spot this one:

... I forgot to install one of the carburetor gaskets - so, all steps in reverse order...

I also spotted a fair bit of oil below the breather tube:

So I replaced the paper seal with a composite one, I hope it will stop spilling oil now...

P.S.: unfortunately it didn't run better afterwards - I will check for other issues tomorrow!

The spark plugs are all tan-colored and the distributor is in perfect working order, also the ignition timing is o.k. - mmmmh?