Looking for more pep off the line

Alecb the guys have covered everything. I like to use a vacuum guage when doing the tune, it can also reveal any engine problems. My engine has an unknown performance cam (bigger than stock) so initial timing would be guesswork. It's an iron headed 340 with 2.02 j heads and a sixpack. I just set timing up for highest vacuum reading at idle and backed it off a touch and then set total timing. If you keep that cam I agree bigger carb and decent converter. BTW I'm lazy so the vacuum guage tells me a lot without doing a lot of work. :)