65 Belvedere - electric fan, fuel pump, etc.

[Jim Altemose <jaltemoose@xxxxxxxxx>]

I recently bought a '65 Belvedere that is set up as a drag car with a
383.  I'm not an experienced drag racer (though I'd like to be), and
I'd like to get a little insight into some of the 'goodies' it has. 
I'm trying to make a little more street-friendly, but I plan to take
it to the track sometimes.

1. It has Barry Grant electric fuel pump.  The fuel pump is connected
to the windshield wiper switch, which is tied to the ignition.  Is
there a reason I wouldn't always keep the fuel pump on?  Or, am I able
to drive on the street without it and get better mileage?

2. It has an electric radiator fan on it's own switch, which is NOT
tied to the ignition.  If I forget to switch it off, I kill the
battery.  Is there a reason not to connect it the ignition and have it
always on?

3. It's a shifted-automatic with a 727 torqueflite and Hurst
slap-stick shifter.  There's a button on the shifter nob that I
haven't figured out yet what it does.  Maybe a line-lock?  Are there
any techniques/dangers for street driving I should be aware of?  It
seems pretty straight-forward; like driving a stick without the foot
pedal.  When I slow down to stop and I'm in third, I'm tending to slow
all the way down to almost stop with the brake; I'm not down-shifting.

Thanks.

- Jim
Jim Altemose, Long Island, NY
'63 Polara 500 (Max Wedge), '65 Belvedere I (Street Wedge), '71 Bronco