From Carter's ads in the early 50's:

"The ABC's of carburetion: Always Buy Carter!"

The Carter carbs are better, but there's nothing wrong with your Rochester. I've had some success draw-filing the tops of carburetors where the main body and the top meet, but it has to be done carefully. During a rebuild, take a big, flat file, and carefully dress the mating surfaces unti they fit flush and compress the gasket evenly at all points. Be sure and do a good cleanup to keep the file shavings from getting into passageways and clogging them. I really don't like sealers anywhere around a carburetor, or intake mainfold. There's just too much risk of getting it pulled into a vacuum passageway and ending up sealing off the wrong place!
Jerry

"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!