Throttle rod and linkage geometry gone wonky

[Ride The Snake!]

After reinstalling the *same* carb and intake following a cam replacement and gaskets, water pump, among some other items--my throttle rod and linkage no longer align properly. For the life of me, I can't fathom why the throttle rod now requires that extreme forward angle in front of the firewall at closed position, in order to have adequate pedal travel inside the cab. Ideas?

Edit: I had to make extra threads on the rod connected to the carb in order to get the gas pedal to be resting in an appropriate position and not on the damn floor.
Edit 2: sorry I forgot to rotate the images