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I haven't ever owned an auto, but I drive one at work. It's a Ford from around the same era and with similar displacement. Dunno if this is applicable or not, but I found that when I accelerate using cruise control (e.g. get up to 20 and then re-enable cruise) it immediately locks the torque converter and accelerates at around 80% load, shifting at pretty optimal points. I can't get it to lock the torque converter at that load without cruise control.
My experience has been that in city driving, even if accelerating more slowly isn't as efficient a way of accelerating, it results in lower average speed and less momentum lost at every stop, which tends to work out best.
Definitely get some FE instrumentation. Otherwise you're shooting in the dark.
I have a similar engine (Honda K series 2.4L) in my Insight. I haven't yet figured out how best to drive it, but I have observed two things:
1) It's a pig when it's still warming up.
2) Engine-off coasting helps a ton. Not that I'd recommend it in an auto.
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