'68 El Camino, lumpy high comp. 350 engine, TH400 trans, need TC advice.

[RichardSIA]

Bought a '68 El Camino with a 400/400 drive-train.

The engine ran out of oil pressure and I bought a used "1970 Nova 300 HP" from a guy doing an LS conversion.

About the time I got the new engine cleaned up and ready to install I found out it no longer has flat top pistons and 10.25-1 compression.

Not sure what the compression actually is, I never had the heads off.
I figure it has to be at least 11-1, cam pulls to the moon, but wants to let the engine die at 900-1000 rpm idle with the TH400's stock 1500 flash converter.
I never had the cam out to look for numbers either, it likes the top end, 6500 RPM and it will go higher if I let it.
Wish I could talk to the engine builder.



This TH400 trans and TC worked fine with the 400" engine.

With this 350 it's pretty bad.
Tries to stall at idle so I'm having to manual shift it, not good with the stock column shift.
Bangs into gear, have to apply gas to stay running, not good when trying to remain low profile to John Law.
Shifts way too early now with mild throttle, not a lot better with the pedal held down, and it's pretty dead until around 2500 RPM or more.
10" of vacuum at 1000 rpm, using a reservoir and still need to add a vacuum pump for brakes at lights.
The kick down does not seem to function anymore, I know the switch is good, I can hear it when I work it manually with the engine off and it worked on the old engine.
Stock 3.55 rear gears, 245/60-14 25.6" BFG rear tires.
Double pumper 650-700 CFM carb on a Performer manifold (Will switch to a Performer RPM ASAP, was a Torker II when I bought the engine).

Everything feels so tall I cannot really get a feel for the cam or when the manual secondaries kick in unless I force it down into a lower gear.

Not into drag race AT ALL, cruising rpm is around 3000 - 3500, also has to live in some city traffic.

What I really want is to have this a bit more street-able around town without breaking more engine mounts but still take full advantage of this engine on the open Nevada roads.

If cost and time were no object I would throw a manual trans in and grin from ear to ear.
For now I need to keep it on the road as my daily driver.

Hoping a 2400 stall is enough, also hoping to be able to limit trans slip at highway speeds.
As usual some of my desires may be contradictory.

Suggestions without breaking the bank, changing the cam (It's a lot of fun when I get to let the RPM work for me) changing out the pistons etc.?
I have a 327 I am gathering parts for that will make this 350 look stock, hopefully next year, with real gears too.