So going back to the OP's question.... You wil want to get eh strip kit if you dont have it, and more than likely the ping is a combination of the wrong step up spring and both primary jet and rod and secondary jetting. Also, the AFB uses the counterweighted air door and these can be slightly reduced in mass to get the secondaries to open faster, provided the fuell mix is correct. For what you have, I agree the Holley is not the best carb, and I'd wager it feels faster with it, but on the track isnt any faster. I also am a firm believer in timing first, and timing means the three prts: initial; centrifical; and total. You want at least 15° initial, and no more than 36° total. I'll add that if I had built it, it would have a 750 Thunder AVS on it.