Not enough vacuum?

You probably are correct that your engine vacuum is too low. BUT, I would confirm this by measuring vacuum at the booster with the car in Drive, foot on the brake.

Where is your vacuum hose connected at the engine?

BigBlockMopar suggests vacuum at the carb. base. I'm thinking of the usual source at the intake plenum.

It’s a 4 speed car and I measured vacuum where the hose comes off the intake. I haven’t checked it through the check valve yet. I wanted to see what vacuum was at the source. I never considered vacuum being different off the intake vs the carb.