no secondary stop screw present. Visually inspecting it on and off the vehicle shows that it is indeed closed.
These are standard idle screws, either direction (even all the way in) has no effect tho.

I have no way to check fuel pressure while running (at this time) I did however pull the fuel line where it enters into the carb inlet, hooked a pressure gauge to it and fired up the engine.
It ran for 20 seconds with the fuel in the bowls just as rough as normal. The fuel pressure was high at 8.5 psi.
Dunno if this line of thinking is correct or not, but my thought on the high fuel pressure is this: 1. First the engine still ran the same way, even while not using the lift pump. 2. The fuel level in the bowls (check with engine running and sight plug open) remained at the same level, so it isn't bypassing/overpowering the needle valve.

still puzzled....
and thanks for all of your help,
Drew