Well, time for an update. I sent it off to Kooks' Headers in NC, they did a beautiful job making the headers and entire stainless exhaust.
They sent it back last week and i was able to get back on it and finished it up this week. I took it next door where they stuck an inspection sticker on it and i gave it a short test ride yesterday evening. Man, this thing has got some power! 1st gear was very managable and putted around just fine - you just don't want to push your foot down unless theres lots of room around you.
I took it out of town a couple miles and came back, the carb is getting trash from something, the idle ckt is screwed and it acts like the floats are too high. But i never got out of 4th and wondered why there is 2 more gears in the tranny.
I'll get some pics of the exhaust.