OK Don----I guess you aren't receptive to my ideas of doing the internet diagnosis of your cars problems-------so I'm going to ask for one more thing and then I'll step away from your problems unless you point out that I have miss read the posts--


Get some one to help---can be your wife as this is easy----have her hold the throttle pedal down all the way and then you check to see that the carb blades are all the way open and then under the car see if the throttle pressure arm is at full travel----and also where its at at part/idle travel--------


It appears to me from the photo that you have an linkage setup that is not of correct geometry and/or travel to operate your engine or trans in proper manner----


Lack of travel to open carb= low rpm, lack of travel on trans cable = low rpm shifts, 1000 rpm idle = hanging cable?


And how about a photo of the vacume hose connection for the trans????