Triumph Repair: exhaust header, throttle shaft, brass screw

Question
Howard,
I have recently purchased a 79 Spitfire, the owner is deceased and he had been "wrenching" on the car. I'm not really sure what all he had done. The car, I am told, as not run since he removed carb and intake and installed a Pacesetter header. Two questions for a limited knowledge person as myself: 1) there are two treaded openings on the header that I am sure must be plugged or attached to something. I can't seem to find the right size plug to thread into the holes. Any ideas?  2) Car has sat or three years, I got it to fire with starting fluid, what do I need to do fuel and carb wise to get it running? When it did start it revved to 5k rpm's I immediately shut it down and have not tried since.(thinking holes on header have something to do with this as well). I really  enjoy reading you and Jim's answers. Thanks, John

Answer
Hi John,
Pacesetter sells headers with and without ports for pollution equipment (EGR) and the plugs are threaded for that equipment. I don't remember what size the threads are but they have to be either US (NF or NC), pipe thread (I doubt)or metric and all are available at any hardware or automotive store for a plug. Pacesetter will know what threads were used. Contact Pacesetter on the Net.

If your RPM went to 5 K on start up with starting fluid, the throttle must have been wide open. No, the open ports in the headers had nothing to do with that.
Any car that sat for three years needs the whole fuel system cleaned out. Drain the tank & lines and remove the carb and take the float chamber off and put in a new needle and seat and clean the carb. Remove the top cover and remove the piston being careful not to bend the needle. Inspect the diaphragm for tears or holes and replace if necessary. You do not need to do much with the temp compensator on the right side (long plastic cover) and confirm the large brass screw in the right side is screwed all the way in. The decell valve (right side and close to the throttle shaft) will usually be self disabled because the diaphragm is probably very hard and inop.
If your carb has a coolant operated choke, that may be a problem so cover that last when everything is cleaned out.
Let me know how you do,
Howard