PROBLEM SOLVED!

thanks for all the advice everyone! i swapped the crank for another record crank, now it shifts like a dream!

i took a measurement of the chain line at the front and i was getting about 40mm with the "problem" crank, after installing the new crank, chain line is now ~44mm.

within minutes i was able to dial in the front and rear derailleurs to shift up and down through all gears on both front rings, everything shifts smoothly in all possible combination.

strange thing is the new crank is stamped <3>, making it a year older and still falling within the range of '73-'79.