[vectorit]

As for your motor... With all the mileage you got in it, I would be very suspect of the cam. I have seen many of the early BBC's wear down one or more of the lobes, while the engine runs and sounds good the power is lacking plus a few of your plugs prolly foul more than the others? If you don't have the cash to do a full rebuild, I highly recomend changing out the timing gear set and get a new cam kit. I really like the Comp Cams 268 grind, and you will really see a difference in the low end grunt! There is a bit of a lope, but its only noticeable on those cold morning start ups. Being the year of your rig, you don't have to worry about smog cert violations n all. If you go with a full rebuild, check into getting a semi open chambered head. That heads combustion chamber and cam set I mentioned above is a sweet set up. Just as long as your piston dome isn't so high that your compression ratio goes above 9:1, anything higher than that you will be in trouble with to high of compression and with todays gas that isn't a good thing to do in your situation. As for your transmission, look into getting it set up for towing. Heavier duty bearings and clutches, plus opening up the valve body for better shift points. Plus, don't over look the stall converter RPM range set up. A worthy auto trans builder should set you up right.
After reading your original post, it brought back many memories of growin up doin the camping trips in the burb pullin a trailer. The part about your wife white knucklin it cracked me up, since my mother often did that even when the truck was only a few years old! Since my burb doesn't have AC, and its a 4x4 with a manual transmission that howels like an old yellow school bus. Mix that with 100 plus degree weather, there is gonna be a truck load of not so comfy passengers! Ahh those were the days...