Holley Power Valve blocking and Edelbrock Fuel pump leaks

[TonyMadrid]

I need a little help from the gurus regarding Holley Carbs and Edelbrock Fuel Pumps.

First, with respect to a Holley 600 (not a DP), what are the pros and cons of blocking off the power valve and how is it done? I have read a thread where one guy had to do that to a Holley DP to get the carb to lean out and stop providing excess fuel.

Second, I have an Edelbrock Fuel Pump and I have it leak oil twice. I initially saw that due to the diameter of the pump, it was not completly seating against the timing case cover as it was butting against part of the casting of the timing case cover. I trimmed the timing case cover and the pump now seats correctly. However, it leaked oil again and I presumed it was the gasket so I installed a Felpro gasket and thought the problem was solved.
However I now see oil on the top of the pump but I cannot determine the source of the oil. The mounting flange is dry all the way around and there are no observable sources above the area of the top of the pump. I checked the oil pressure sending unit and extension pipe and fitting and they are all bone dry.

It seems like the oil is coming from the fuel pump, either a hairline crack in the pump housing or from one of the two gaskets that separate the three sections of the fuel pump.

As i am having a concurrent problem with low oil pressure, engine running too rich and loading up the cylinders, and fuel in the oil, I cannot run the engine to seek out the true source of the oil leak by the fuel pump. I will pull the pump and examine it.

Has anyone in here ever had any similar experiences with Edelbrock Fuel Pumps? Also, what is the possibility that the pump diaphragm has ruptured causing oil to pass past the diaphragm and work its way out through on of the pump housing gaskets? What about a rupture allowing fuel to enter the oil?

I am running an inline fuel pressure gauge and the gauge needle fluctuates between 6 and 7 psi but it is never steady. With a mechanical pump, should the fuel pressure gauge show a steady reading or since it's mechanical should it fluctuate as the pump activation lever/arm cycles up and down?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Tony