It wasn't the tape...
I found the problem as soon as I started removing the carb again...
3 of the 4 screws holding on the diaphragm seal plate were GONE!
I'm baffled that it made it to 80mph in that condition!
So... I went ahead and swapped the slide and diaphragm(the modified one) from the other carb into this one... and replaced the missing screws with the added protection of red lock tite...
I took it out for a test run and woundn't you know it... the hesitation has completely disappeared.
Crossed my fingers and pulled the air filter, then pulled the tape off...
reinstalled the filter and went for another quick little run around the block.
I think I just realized its potential.
Now that it can breathe, the fuel bowl is staying full, and the slide is operating on demand as it should... It almost scared me.
I goosed it a little hard pulling through the yard out to the street and broke the rear wheel loose. I fishtailed until I hit pavement. Pretty stable though! It didn't even want to try sliding out from under me.
Once I hit pavement... It was trying to lift the front wheel off the ground! Er Ma Gherd!
This is the link for the video of it yesterday...
https://youtu.be/UoSLsqIGl6EI'm about to go take a video of how its running now...