Help! Edelbrock intake swap

[Jonathan Jusczyk <jusczj@xxxxxxx>]

   I'm swapping my stock intake/2bbl carb on my '73 304 with the 
Edelbrock Performer intake and 4bbl.  Everything went smoothly except 
for three things:  the carb-to-manifold studs are different (just a run 
to NAPA for the correct bolts), but the throttle linkage and the 
transmission kickdown linkage are quite different and I don't know how 
to adapt the stock parts to the new Edelbrock linkage.  From someone 
that's done this swap, what have you done?  What did it take to get it 
to work?  Also, there was a metal tray attached underneath the stock 
manifold, is that just a heat shield?  I didn't swap it over, it looked 
like it was mounted with studs.  Should I yank the manifold back off and 
swap that part, or is it not critical?  Sure does look nice under there, 
I'll be taking it off to paint it later on and when I swap my cam, and 
the thing definitely weighs a lot less than the stock lead brick!  
Thanks for any help, please respond ASAP, I need to have my car on the 
road Monday!

Jonathan Jusczyk
jusczj at rpi.edu
1973 AMC Javelin 304