Trans issue or something else?

Hi everyone! After a long (10 plus years) hiatus from anything A-body, I landed on a deal I couldn't pass up for a car that I fell in love with at first sight!

Car info: 74 Dart Swinger /6 with 904, pretty standard fare, but LOTS of new parts and work done before it sat for 2 years after the engine threw a rod. Engine replaced by previous owner for another /6 with about 30k on the clock that was refreshed with new gaskets, seals, etc etc. Car goes down the road fine and cruises on the highway with no problems.

So my question is this:

I have noticed that when leaving from a stop it seems like it takes much more pedal than expected, almost as if you are towing something if that makes sense. I don't have a tach hooked up so I cant give any kind of a number of when it starts to go, but it certainly feels as though I have to give it more pedal than I should when leaving from a stop.

Where would you suggest starting with this? I plan to put it up on stands this weekend to make sure that the drums aren't hanging. It sat for about 2 years with little movement after everything was rebuilt (brakes and suspension wise) so I figured I would start there. Secondly, the steering column seems to be worn out, in that the gear selection is super sloppy and you do have to push up on the lever when it is in park to get the key to go fully to off. This is to the point that it is in park but the NSS isnt registering.

I am mostly familiar with a-body mechanics with my prior ownership/experience (I had 8 at one point lol), but it has been a LONG time since I have gotten my hands greasy on one so any help would be appreciated!

Thanks everyone!