Carb recommendations???

I agree that for a street car you want torque, in the lower to mid range. A 4 bbl carb will do nothing in the low range, and only a little in the mid range. The same with headers, but a free flowing exhaust system will help a little (larger pipe, and low restriction muffler). I stand by my original reccommendation, to increase the compression ratio. If you can do the R&R of the head yourself, the machine shop charge for milling the head, should not be more then $150. Of course you will need to decide if you want to spend additional money for a valve job. The head might not even need it (but probably will).
Gaskets would be less then $50 so looking at $200 to up the compression. That will increase torque over the complete power band. I do agree a four barrel carb can get just as good fuel milage, as a 1 or 2bbl carb, if it is a small 4 bbl, and you stay out of the secondarys. Increasing the compression is still the "best bang for the buck", if doing only one thing. I bet the manifold and carb cost more then $200. But they are "eye candy". you can't see the head mill with the engine assembled.
PS: 67 "A" Body slant did not use the "twisty" carb linkage. 1966 was last year for that.