The rebuilt Rochester 4 bbl. on my 55 Olds leaks at the gaskets and even though I run non-ethanol gas I've had to replace the accelerator pump twice. Now I'm considering either an Edlebrock with an electric choke or a Holley TBI unit. In either case the choke tube that runs through the intake manifold from one side of the engine to the other will no longer be needed and I'd like to repaint the manifold and try to prevent the paint from being burned off by the hot exhaust gasses that pass through the tube. What will happen if I remove the tube, drill and tap the entrance hole and plug it off with a pipe plug. I hope it wouldn't cause any problems.

 

A bigger concern is hooking up the TV linkage to the transmission. You may have already considered it and have it worked out.

 

The choke heat tube runs thru the intake manifold exhaust crossover passage, so that won't stop the paint burning off the crossover. You'd have to install blanking plates on the manifold to stop that.

 

The choke tube running through the manifold is for supplying hot air to the choke housing. I agree with the post that says you need to put block off pieces at the intake manifold where the exhaust heat riser crossover is located on each side.