340 Intake manifold recommendations

Ok so a little more info. I drive my valiant daily with a 318, it has a huges whiplash and am currently using an Airgap and Edelbrock 600 CFM.
I don't need to source an airgap as I have one but would prefer to keep it for a performance 360 I plan to build in the future for my Dart sport.
The reason I wanted to use the thermoquad is for the fact that while most people think they suck, I think they are a cool design and would like to try and make one work. I tried running a TQ with the TQ manifold I have pictured below and it was just not happy on the high end. I also tried the TQ on the Airgap with a square to spread bore adapter and ended up going back to the Edelbrock.

The plan for the car is to continue to be a daily driver that I alternate with my dodge neon. I love driving the car and can care less if it costs me more fuel.
So it is a street car and I don't plan to take it to the strip unless its just for fun, but not competition.
I have just always wanted a 340 and I picked this core 340 up for a $100 and its a fun project and some would call it a waste to use it in a valiant but that's me.
I do also have plans to put my factory AC back into the car. Was hoping the 340 will have some more power and not feel like a slug running AC with a 318. I guess some may say my use of a 340 is a waste since its not being used for a Max performance build.

Here is the TQ I have, it comes back as a 340 MTX carb, I would like to use it as I spent $400 on it from a reputable seller that properly rebuilds them. He had also included metering rods and jets if I planed to use it on a 318, 340 or 360.
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Here is the stock intake manifold, If its actually decent I guess I could use it, but the down side is the weight.
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That 73 intake has constant EGR ports in the floor. If they are not clogged, they should be closed off. Your TQ base is a 73 340 Manual transmission carb, hopefully the rest of the carb is also. I always ran an Auto carb on an Auto trans, probably no big deal, but they are different. You should get "heavy" out of your mind. If the car is faster and runs better, what does an extra 20 lb matter except for the one time you lay it on the engine. What choke are you running? How in the world can a TQ dissapoint on the top end? When those secondaries open up, it is exhilarating to say the least. Do you have the secondary spring adjusting tool? Are the secondaries opening? Are you using valve springs matched for your camshaft? Most people have no clue about carbs, a good early TQ is still probably the best production carb ever made. Followed by a Q-Jet, but it takes more work to fix them. Another carb most people will tell you are junk. How do those "Stock" and "Super Stock" class cars run so fast with those junk carbs?