Throttle linkage and Kickdown

[Pelon916]

i just put an Edelbrock Carb and Performer Intake on my '69 C/10 with a 305 V8 and I have a question about the throttle linkage and kickdown for the tranny.
first, the last part of my throttle linkage, where it connects to the carb, doesn't match up with the edelbrock at all. the carb has a huge hole where my old carb had a really tiny one. can I buy a new arm at the parts store, or do I have to rig it up or fabricate one?
how do yours connect? a clear pic would help also.

second, the kickdown for the tranny is hooked up, but the place where it connects on the carb is a lot further away so there is too much tension on the cable... the truck doesn't want to shift into 3rd on the freeway. if i ease into 3rd on surface streets it will go eventually.. but no luck on the freeway.
how much slack should there be on the cable? is there any way to guage it, or do i just have to fiddle with it?
i had it unhooked but the truck had no bottom end at all.
now it lays tracks in first and second.. but that's all I have.
the tranny is a turbo 350.
thanks for any suggestions guys.