Drove it today with the vacuum switch running the overdrive sorted out and the doghouse on.
Wow! First time with 4.10 gears and a tight PATC transmission. So much fun to run through the gears. And then let it flop into overdrive and watch the revs fall way off.
Versus the 1979 440-
Floor much cooler.
Firewall much cooler.
Quieter as the exhaust manifolds are one piece and sealed. No cracks.
Smooth. Idles at 625 rpm like a Swiss watch. The power comes on in a linear fashion. No sudden "carb is now working right" feeling. 345 horse versus 185. Same torque though. Much more usable power and torque. My rural neighbors may get sick of me running it up the nearby hill.
And it starts in 2 seconds every, single time I hit the button.
I also use my Bluetooth dongle on the OBDII port to see what is happening within. Try that on a 44 year old Thermoquad!