#1, some people have an electric and mechanical fuel pump, if you have a mechanical pump on the engine, then you do not need to have the electric on. these set-ups just use the electric to force feed the mechanical pump. (not very common) that said, if your fuel lines are not running through a mechanical pump, you will need to run the pump to keep the engine fed. usually this is hooked to the key so when the car is off, the pump is off, the wiper switch was just an available switch already mounted in the car. (sometimes a theft deterrant) #2, the fan is wired so after you shut the car off, you can keep the fan on to cool the radiator, this is often coupled with an electric water pump, which keeps the cooled water running through the block. #3, caution!!!, do not do your burnouts in 1st gear!!! either start in first and shift right away or start in 2nd when burning out. if you downshift the trans from drive to 2nd it will downshift!!!, no different than downshifting a 4-speed car. (picture your head hitting the windsheild) the manual auto usually has a feature which allows you to downshift from second through first, directly into neutral, that is, it allows you to shift into first, without actually down shifting the trans into first, you will get used to down shifting from drive to 2nd and sliding it through 1st and into nuetral when you stop, like putting a 4 speed into nuetral at stops. (it is a manual trans)nuetral to first locks it back into 1st. as far as the manual valve body goes, if you don't like it, you can easily replace it with a normal valve body. the manual does not lose any shifting time like a normal trans, that is its only purpose. #3b,you should be able to see a line lock mechanism in your brakelines, under the hood. if there is no line lock, you may have a transbrake. usually you have to hold the button to make the car backup, so it is likely a linelock. sounds like a well set-up car, good luck at the track!! tom 65 satellite --- Jim Altemose <jaltemoose@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > I recently bought a '65 Belvedere that is set up as > a drag car with a > 383. I'm not an experienced drag racer (though I'd > like to be), and > I'd like to get a little insight into some of the > 'goodies' it has. > I'm trying to make a little more street-friendly, > but I plan to take > it to the track sometimes. > > 1. It has Barry Grant electric fuel pump. The fuel > pump is connected > to the windshield wiper switch, which is tied to the > ignition. Is > there a reason I wouldn't always keep the fuel pump > on? Or, am I able > to drive on the street without it and get better > mileage? > > 2. It has an electric radiator fan on it's own > switch, which is NOT > tied to the ignition. If I forget to switch it off, > I kill the > battery. Is there a reason not to connect it the > ignition and have it > always on? > > 3. It's a shifted-automatic with a 727 torqueflite > and Hurst > slap-stick shifter. There's a button on the shifter > nob that I > haven't figured out yet what it does. Maybe a > line-lock? Are there > any techniques/dangers for street driving I should > be aware of? It > seems pretty straight-forward; like driving a stick > without the foot > pedal. When I slow down to stop and I'm in third, > I'm tending to slow > all the way down to almost stop with the brake; I'm > not down-shifting. > > Thanks. > > - Jim > Jim Altemose, Long Island, NY > '63 Polara 500 (Max Wedge), '65 Belvedere I (Street > Wedge), '71 Bronco > __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail Stay connected, organized, and protected. Take the tour: http://tour.mail.yahoo.com/mailtour.html