Sounds like the float is either going bad or getting stuck, allowing the carb to overflow with gas. Also start with the basics of cap/rotor and wires to go with your new plugs.

As long as emissions and/or visual inspection isn't a concern, I'd highly recommend ditching the stock carburetor as it's a royal pain to rebuild one, IF you can find a rebuild kit, and then hook the vacuum lines back up correctly.

A downdraft weber kit from www.carbs.net would be my suggestion for a little added performance without a noticable cost to gas mileage.