theracedude,
It sounds like it has been a tough road for you. When you say that the jetaway doesn't work, what do you mean, specifically? Did you have the throttle linkage from the carb to the transmission hooked up? Did it shift? Were you working on it yourself, or have help? Was it leaking? Did it burn up? Slip?
I rebuilt one for a '56 Pontiac Safari (that's where the missing parts of mine went) and it works nice. It's too bad that you are all the way in the Keys, and I am in Maryland. I'd really like to help you out. If your trans parts are decent, between the two we could probably make one work, and stay in budget.
What carburetor setup are you running? The throttle linkage is critical to the operation of the transmission - it is not just a "kickdown" device.
Let me know what went wrong, and maybe I can help.
440shorty