Incredibly Fast Rev After Routine Maintenance

I bought this 75 Dart (225 slant 6, Holley 1945 single barrel carb) about 4 weeks ago and have been fiddling with something or other just about every day since. The car has started up fine and idled okay every time I fired it up. Only problem is it coughs and sputters when you give it some gas. So, last weekend, I changed out the plugs and wires and the fuel filter and pump. Upon completion, I fired it up and it revved like it was trying to take flight. When I went to look at the fast idle adjustment screw, it noticed it and the spring are missing, and the lever was stuck in the wide open throttle position. I touched it and it released back to the normal idle position.

Question - Is the fast idle lever supposed to set back in the wide open throttle position like this or do I have a kink in my linkage somewhere?

I know the engine revs higher when cold and then releases to normal when warm, but full throttle? That seems a bit much.

Also, I don't want to be going down the road and hit it and have the carb stick in the full open position.

I appreciate your thoughts on this.

Jim
Jacksonville, FL