Trap Door Inside Exaust Manifold

I'm not sure where Modesto is north or south but if it gets really cold there in the winter you might consider wiring it open to experiment to see if you can live without it on cold start ups. If you need it you can always take the wire holding it open off. If you remove it completely and find you wish you hadn't.......Also if you have a divorced choke that uses manifold heat to warm the spring, it may take longer to warm the spring causing it to be rich longer than it needs to be decreasing your oil change intervals by dumping extra unburnt fuel in the crankcase not to mention decreasing spark plug life.