The TCC failure can be tested by simply disconnecting it. Normally, it will only kill the engine when the trans is pulled into gear. Revving and then dieing sounds like fuel starvation. The engine runs in a rich condition. By that I mean there's more fuel than it really needs. When it begins to run out of fuel, the air/fuel ratio actually reaches it's optimum and the engine will rev up. Try it with your lawn more if you have a fuel shutoff valve. With the mower running, close the valve and when the carb runs out of fuel, the engine will rev up quickly, then die.
With a higher vacuum demand on the regulator while the car is moving, it may be able to overcome some minor blockage in the fuel system. I'd check the fuel filter as a first suspect. I replaced one that was so blocked that when I removed the tank side filter line, back pressure blew fuel all over me. She had been driving it from the area of Atlanta Motor Speedway to Tennessee and North Carolina like that. It didn't have much power, but it would keep her moving.
I would also swap out the Ignition Control Module. They sometimes fail while sitting due to heat saturation. When they cool, the traces on the printed circuit make contact again and the car will start. If you're using the old distributor and module, that might be the problem. In any event, you need to carry a spare ICM at all times, plus a tube of Radio Shack Heat Sink Compound.
