Welcome on the board. Low-miles cars are a lot of fun, nothin' like 'em. Show us some pictures!
It definitely sounds like a major tune-up is in order, including a careful rebuild of the carburetor (with new float) if you're keeping the 1bbl even for just the short term. Don't be tempted to install a "remanufactured" carburetor from a parts store; they're junk. It sounds like the choke is behaving like the '73 nonadjustable chokes tend to behave: Poorly. You may want to install one of the electric choke kits instead. Tune-up parts and technique suggestions in this thread. Also see the valve adjustment procedure.
Your '73 has a not-particularly-optimal spark advance curve — you will want to recurve the distributor or drop in one of the new 3874714 distributors that go by pretty frequently on eBay.
Your '73 also carries a great deal of first-generation emission control equipment that scarcely worked properly even when brand new. You'll find the OSAC valve on the passenger side of the firewall. Two vacuum hoses run to it: one from the carburetor, and one from the distributor. Bypass this valve; run the vacuum hose directly from the carburetor to the distributor. This will greatly reduce the sluggishness on acceleration.
Given Colorado's altitude and the fuel composition there, you will likely see a significant improvement in cold and hot starting if you do the fuel line mod.
The Super Six setup is highly desirable. It's difficult to think of any downsides to it, assuming you find and install a good carburetor (again, "reman" units aren't worth messing with). This setup was available in most all slant-6 applications (car, truck, van) from '76-'82, but not in all markets in all years (some years they weren't available in high-altitude markets, some years not in California, etc.) The intakes were made in both iron and aluminum. The aluminum ones can be used successfully, but doing so requires a great deal more care and preparation, because they are problem-prone (cracks, warp, porous castings). See this post and the links from it. If you do decide to go ahead with the Super Six, you'll need the air cleaner, carburetor, intake manifold, shorter throttle cable, and complete throttle/kickdown linkage and bracket setup. The other option is to retrofit a kickdown cable. Lokar cables can be made to work, but this seems a better option and uses factory parts for easy service. I've posted a lengthy manual for the Carter BBD carb used on the Super Six; you can get it here.
Don't know where you are in Colorado; if you're in the greater Denver metro area I can recommend some good resources for parts. This post is a start in that direction, and then there's the yard I worked at.
Make sure you have at least the factory service manual for your '73.
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. It's all good - I've got time.
