I assume your car is a road car not a banger car ?
a smaller carb will flow better low down that is true due to velocity through it.
It is when it reaches it's much earlier limit of airflow, that is then restricts power enormously.
This is why big engine have big carbs and little engine have little carbs.
I could see that on a limited track like a banger track a smaller carb would be an advantage but not on the road, it will massively restrict the power.
Carbs are sized to engine load/air demand, get the right one, it is pointless trying to get this one to run.
As it is a carb 1.6 get either the xr2 one or better the xr3 one, will make a world of difference over a wheezy 1.1 carb.
You are going to be hard pushed to get over around 65/70 bhp out of the carb you have, with mods.
The 32DFT fitted to xr3 will allow over 120, std xr3 is 96bhp so get xr3 cam or piper/kent etc to go with it if you want.
tabetha