Not sure on the filter length or age. What a wake up call this will be if it is the problem. I should have given more thought to the condition of the air filter...but honestly, it didn't even cross my mind.
Ok, will run it without a filter and report back. Since the car has never shifted into 2nd gear at WOT, I have no idea when it will change gears(will be over 5,900 at least). At what RPM should I lift off the gas(if it doesn't shift into 2nd) to avoid spinning it too high and possibly causing valvetrain damage or worse?
FWIW, the reason the shift points are so out of whack is because the trans is suspected to be from a Monte Carlo or SS or something other than a GN. It doesn't have the BRF valve body and the governor gear is green.
Awesome to know about the turbo. The 3200 stall converter seems to work well and spool up isn't bad at all.