Exhaust Damper/Heat valve

Keep it, provided you're using the stock intake. Many aftermarket intakes don't even have a crossover in them, which renders the damper ineffective- it just becomes an obstruction. If you're trying to maintain the stock look in that circumstance, leave it on and just wire it open. With a stock intake or aftermarket with a crossover, leave it intact, especially if using the stock choke. Just make sure all the carbon is cleaned out of the crossover.