Sure enough - a 717 is a stick. Hard to say what transmission you might have now - would be stamped just above the pan. The E and S are not from that era but it could be just something on the console and unrelated to the transmission. The 2.65 is from later cars, not earlier. Sounds like multiple problems but the feeling of needing another gear would be alleviated by a taller ratio, e.g. 2.65 - unless perhaps you're stuck in next-to-top gear whatever that is.