Interesting reading.
The black valve covers look just right in this car.

A section of gutter guard mesh, zip tied across and behind that lower bumper intake, keeps road debris from dinging cooling fins.

Have a 2v Holley with annular boosters, manual choke, on the stock 2.3T. Engine drives same or better than the stock carbs did.
May be a psychological but adds a high performance type feel. As before, rarely need any choke to start or when warming up.
Pulls very smooth even from a low rpm and when in a higher gear than normally used. Fuel econ is same or better.