i must be completely missing something ?!?

2 questions: 1: is this your first outing? 2: any airflow numbers?. That 1.88 valve is killing you, unless that flows in the 240-250 intake flow zone. You mentioned "four speed " ,& "torque converter"... So you are swapping , to automatic? Gears,out back? We need the digits, to save you frustration and time.
Many passes on new combo. No flow #'s. Have 4 speed . 410 gears. Not frustrated. Thank you...