I'm reading the FSM for replacing the manifold heat riser thermostatic spring, and I'm looking at how it operates in the position I installed it, and something doesn't seem right.

See the picture: that's how it's installed right now.



How does the thermostat spring work? It's holding the riser plate in the 'closed' position now since it's 'cold'. If I rotate the shield counter-clockwise, that's 'open' and it coils the spring up a bit. The tongue of the spring catches under the stop-stud creating tension, and when I release, it rotates the riser plate back to 'closed'.

For the most part, I think that's what I want. But I'm looking at it, and wondering "ok, what happens when the spring heats up"?

Click this quick video and please advise if I have it right, or not quite.

http://s153.photobucket.com/user/colise ... d.mp4.html

As it warms up the spring expands/relaxes so the diverter opens and does not direct the gases up, but out.

For fun........
On my good 9.5 to 1 engine I took the exhaust diverter out, and installed round headed stainless bolts and washers to plug the holes. Everybody cries fowl and that the performance and mileage will suffer. Maybe with a stock cast iron intake. However, not so with an aluminum intake, carburetor heat deflector to keep the carb cool and manifold warm, carb heat hooked up and electric radiator fans so they are not blowing cold air on the intake when the engine is first started. I also ground out the exhaust manifold to 2.25" about 6 inches up from the bottom exhaust flange and ported the exhaust runners as far as you can reach.
The engine runs great even below freezing temps. I ran mine for years that way with excellent cold starts and plenty power just as an experiment. I do jet lean (#57) and I adjusted the choke bi-metal spring pivot so the choke does not stay on long......generally about a mile and half on a cold day and I don't warm up my car either. Jump in and go and climbing my first hills at 40 to 45 mph about three blocks from the house. The engine runs on full synthetic Mobile 1. Yes, I do drive aggressively on the back roads along the foothills.

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Aggressive Ted

http://cid-32f1e50ddb40a03c.photos.live ... %20Swinger


74 Swinger, 9.5 comp 254/.435 lift cam, 904, ram air, electric fans, 2.5" HP2 & FM70 ex, 1920 Holley#56jet, 2.76 8 3/4 Sure-Grip, 26" tires, 25+MPG