ok, so the car is running better with the choke wired open, but when i come to a stop it surges and wants to die. also, if i run regular or midgrade unleaded the car deisles when i shut her down, doesnt ping at all, but deisles. 
I just solved this same set of problems on my 440. It doesn't try to shut off at the stop lights anymore, nor does it diesel when I shut it off.
I did the following:
1. Upped my timing from 6 to 13 degrees initial. (the point is I increased it, 13 is just what my 440 likes, don't know for your 383)
2. Adjusted the carb idle mixture, and in my case it meant leaning it out a bit. This only works AFTER getting the correct timing.
3. I idle around 700-800rpm.
Timing was everything in my case.
