Opinions on low end 360?

Okay, time for an upgrade!
Been lots of other stuff going on so we have a serious delay here...
Well, I had the heads shaved off as we discussed and the result was 60.5cc chambers so now the CR would be around 9.7:1. Traded the RPM intake for the lower Performer 318/360. Found a bunch of TQ's but they all needs rebuild and I haven't found the time to order a kit yet. By the way, I have heard that there are bad and good kits out there and I don't know what to order. Any experience?

I had a re-manufactured 1969-1971 Carter AVS 4966S (1971 440") on the shelf so I put that on, eager to take a test drive.
Distributor is a MP that I have restriction welded and put lighter springs in. I set timing to 36* fully advanced w/o vacuum and that gave me around 22* at idle. Seems like it is fully advanced at 2,200 rpm.
Got a lot more punch from idle and it still revs happily! Just found an old Autometer tach and it will be fun to see the revs. It sounds really mean with the exhaust note and superb throttle response!
Next upgrade will be a cam swap, but I'm happy with it how it runs for now. The 3.23 is a cone style and suddenly it slips so now my street is full of single tracks... Before the mods there was no way to brake the tires loose on dry pavement.

The only issue is a slight pinging at low rpm's on third when you come to an uphill. It goes away as soon as you give it a little more throttle. I have no experience from Carter AVS so I haven't touched it aside from turning the screws watching a vacuum meter. Does the timing come in too early or can I correct that lean spot by jetting? Can't find the note I did some weeks ago when I had it assembled and checked the cylinder pressure but I'm pretty sure it was between 170-180 psi.

Found some info on the net and some of them say that distributor vacuum should be connected to the front, and this always confuses me. The connection on the back of the carb is, from what I understand, the ported vacuum so it gives a lot of vacuum and timing when cruising and the throttle is maybe open only 1/4, then when you floor it the ported vacuum drops and timing goes back to the mechanical setting. The intake vacuum is "the opposite" and can not be used for distr vacuum right? But what is it used for then?