If my 727 shifts too soon, and too soft, which way do I adjust?

You do have the adapter, correct?
On the carb?
The adapter lever Holley sells? Yep. Was working good with the same Holley a while back. Then I put an AVS on it and by trial & error got it adjusted till I was happy with it. Now I put the same Holley back on, and can't seem to get the doggone thing adjusted right. I figure if I knew for sure which way to go with the length, I'd cut my trial & error time in half. If I find the time and the weather cooperates I'll screw around with it some more this weekend.