when you have things taken apart like you had it is easy to end up with a vacuum leak, adjusting timing and fast idle can hide it , just recheck ALL vacuum lines, not just visually but actually feel them to make sure none are loose, brittle, or otherwise, remember there is some movement of the engine, etc. when you put the car in gear and try to drive so see also if there is anything that could be affected by movement. your manifold and carb base could also be a source if they didn't seal properly. Since you changed your PCV setup recheck it as well - just because you didn't touch a line before doesn't mean something didn't happen during the work - if you have a stethoscope it could be helpful because it kills a lot of the background noise. I have had vacuum issues in my past and they would kick my but, then I would find something that really seemed obvious. As far as the transmission, if it is the adjustment hopefully you get the exact issue, it could help me not have to endure the same pain
