well Lugnuts, you were close. even though I flushed and cleaned the tank during the build, I had a filter full of fine rusty crap. cleaned the lines, replaced the filter and it runs great. gas quantity is what the gage says empty to full. I expect to replace the filter a couple more times but now I know what I'm looking for.
thanks for the tip.

bty, if I want to upgrade my t5 gears will any WC t5 work with a tail shaft change. I just turned down one that (by the casting numbers)came out of an AMC, probably Jeep.. I wasn't sure and the shifter is way aft for my 65.