Color by WEASEL

My recently partially rebuilt 289 surges or pulsates at idle. (I did not replace cam or lifters.) The carb leaks gas from a gasket under the front. I have a rebuild kit so that will be taken care of. I wonder, is the carb the only thing that could be making it surge? There is no lack of performance even with the leaking gas. A bit above idle and it smooths out...maybe mythically since I can't hear it or seemingly even feel it anymore. It almost throbs at idle. Could it be anything other than the carb? I have not done a compression check but plan to this weekend. When I pull the plug wire from number 5 it does not seem to change much. The timing is correct and again, no performance issues. With the number 5, if it is not the rings, and the heads have been cleaned but no new valves installed, could I have a lifter problem. No smoke. No leaks. No oil or any thing indicating a head gasket issue, which is new to boot. It feels like it is running on 7 cyl. at idle, but yet no real loss of power or accelertation. No hesitation either, only the idle issue. Any ideas????