1. My car is now an auto 289. Yet it has a clutch pedal that is inactive.....so my question is how would I be able to tell if it use to be a manual? Or if someone was just trying to convert. I wanted a manual for future use anyways.

2. Say i go to the post office. Go in and come out as soon as my car starts i notice the temp gauge is a little hot but cools down as soon as the engine runs for about 15 sec. Is that normal to get hot while parked?

3. Can I get some opinions on the best Header/Exhaust combos for a 289 thats soon to be running a 4barrel carb/intake.

Thanks!
Nathen

 

1. I'm pretty sure one of the characters in the VIN can tell you that, but I'm not sure which one. Just search for a VIN decoder.

2. Perfectly normal, it's called heat soak. The temperatures generated in the combustion chamber are much higher than what you see on the gauge. Normally, coolant is only in the block for a short time before it is pushed through the radiator and cooled down. When the coolant is just sitting in the block (i.e. car not running/water pump not spinning) it absorbs more heat.

3. Not too familiar with 289s, but if you are looking for good, high quality stuff, check out JBA for headers. Just run some stainless 2.5" pipe for the exhaust. Throw in an x-pipe and some Flowmaster or Edelbrock mufflers and you should be in good shape.