I’m open to some suggestions to help the combo. I know the number sucks. What opinions to change do you recommend?
Why not try to tune it first before you start throwing more money at it? The dyno is a good tool, if you have it at your disposal use it to it's full potential. It sounds like the shop may have broke it in (did they?) and did a cursory dyno pull and that's what they got. Probably has more in it, just have to find it.
You might want to ask the dyno shop some questions about their procedures. What was the air like when they ran it? What was the correction factor? Did they use a carb hat/fan? Is the dyno properly calibrated? There's so many things that could be in play, it's hard to know exactly what we are looking at.
As far as parts - is it going to be raced or street driven? If you're going to drag race it regularly, the combo is definitely off. Race engine would be a solid roller, bigger headers, Holley 850+, electric water pump, etc. Race engine stuff.
The Port-O-Sonic used to be a well-regarded intake but there's probably better pieces out there now. An RPM Air Gap might be a better choice, they perform well on milder combos like yours and will run with a single plane to the upper RPMS.
The pics show a Mallory Unilite distributor - is it electronic? How is it set up? Is that the coil they used? Seems kinda chintzy for a dyno cell. What ignition was used? Figure there would at least be an MSD box of some sort, preferably a digital one.
What size are the headers? They look like TTi 1 5/8"- 1 3/4" step headers. They're on the small side but they do work. Full exhaust in the car?
Do you have another carb to try? Most dyno shops have a proven unit they have on hand in case the customer's doesn't work.
Too many variables and unanswered questions to be able to help accurately.
