I would prime the oil pump before cranking it a lot with dry bearings. You can pull a valve cover and make sure oil is getting to the top. I dump a couple quarts of ATF into the torque convertor before installing it. Keep a close eye on the fluid once it starts, you absolutely do not want your transmission spinning dry.
That flat paddle on the throttle linkage would hit the kickdown lever if you had one, they use the same throttle shaft for everything and add kickdown on the automatic carbs. You don't need a kickdown lever on a C4 or C5, if it lugs down, pull the shifter into a lower gear.
I'd want a 1.08 carb on a 2.8, a 1.12 would make for a soggy bottom end. 79 fox body Mustangs, Capri's, Fairmont's, and Zephyrs with V8's used a 1.08 carb and I'm sure the 80 and 81 models with a 255 V8 used one as well. Check with fox body vendors. Gary Baum at Second Generation Mustang is apt to have a 1.08 carb as he specializes in Mustang II's.
With a cam or carb that's too big you get bragging rights at the cost of drivability.