There should be a thick gasket between the carb and manifold...it appears to be missing from your install...
Make sure its there when you put new carb on...
If divorced choke cover still hits the levers, just tap the tin cover of the choke down a little so it clears...the cover only covers a small coil spring..just tap it down gently until it clears...
Doubt it would have caused the flooding, if anything, i would have been causing a lean condition stumble...
