New Life for a truck passed its prime

[flattopwill]

UPDATE! Had the exhaust work done today AND got the correct tune from Nelson. It runs a hundredfold better now! So much better that I actually drove it to work tonight.

Interesting note: it would not start today before or after the exhaust work. Culprit: we had run it so much during the time it had no exhaust and was running rich that it fouled the plugs! I mean these things were some of the worst looking plugs I've seen!

Anyway, I am super excited about it running and driving again but there are still a few kinks to work out. The "kink" that worries me the most is that it feels like it has no first gear. It is really doggy from a launch. But once I get goin 30-40 and give it some gas it really goes. I didn't have any time to really diagnose this becase I had just enough time to get back from the exhaust shop and get ready for work. Also, I'm not sure if this is related or not but I have a few codes that are all transmission related:
tcc solenoid control circuit.....
And
somethin else about tcc....
and
transmission pressure switch manifold fault

I checked the fluid level on the trans and is good. Also, it does not achieve converter lockup (obviously related to the above codes).

The next kink is that it always takes two tries to start it. Turn the key once and it fires then dies quickly. Turn the key again and it starts. I'm worried it's not holding fuel pressure....

And lastly, the trans is leaking from inside the main trans connector....how does that happen and how the hell do I fix it?