318 2bbl won't idle without choke

I just took the top of the carb off after running the car a while to check it. With the carb full of fuel and the floats as closed as they can go, it's 1/4" from the top of the carb body - maybe ever so slightly less, actually. That should be correct, right?
THere are measurements in the kit and instructions for float level and float drop. Those adjustments are fairly critical.