carb passage plugs

My new camshaft is on its way. My single barrel 30mm carb just isnt going to cut it. My laptop has died so the megasquirt installation is on hold for a bit. I am stuck with getting a 2 barrel carb going for the time being.

6 months ago when I was still taken by the rather romantic notion that I could be satisfied by the performance and economy of a carburetor I dissasembled a Weber 30DIC and let it sit in a gallon of carb cleaner for a few weeks and installed a costly rebuild kit. problem being that a few of the passages were blocked so I pretty much gave up right away, slapped the NOS single barrel on and just enjoyed driving the Fiat.

So these lead passage plugs, what is the best way to remove them? Googling has turned up soldering irons and EZ outs as possible solutions.

And replacing them? I have read buckshot and fishing weights are options. Now I am just simple city folk and I know not what lurks behind the doors of a sporting goods store. Is there a...gasp....auto parts store alternative ? I kinda like the idea of tapping the holes and running small socket set screws in their place....good idea? bad idea?

Went ahead and went with the smallest ez-out set I had. popped em out in a jiffy. Still thinking strongly about tapping those holes to 6 or 8-32 and using 1/8" long socket set screws to plug them back up. Anybody got a good reason not to?

Treads can and will leak over time. Sealer on the treads is not good cause the gas will eat the sealer and it will wick in to the passageway and clog other stuff. Crushing lead shot is likley your best best shot at sealing the holes. If you dont think you've got it sealed tight enough JB weld the out side of the shot or outside of the treads if you deside on set screws.