The waxstat looks to be functioning, there is much tension on the cable when the car is cold (hard to disengage CS for setting timing) and when warm it is relaxed. I believe there is a procedure to test precisely but this seems adequate.
I'm not sure what you mean by cold start lever. Do you mean the lever on the pump? I haven't touched that. The ball stud has been moved around a few times, I need to get that fine tuned. The odd thing is that my cold start RPMs start lower and raise in the first minutes of driving. Then when the car is hot, they drop back down. Usually I just keep them up with my foot until the idle clears up.
I tested the entire GP system and everything works exactly as it should. I didn't realize that in certain temps the controller keeps the plugs on for a few moments after the indicator light goes off. I have yet to test it, but my theory is in very cold temps the controller isn't holding them on long enough. That's why it starts strong, then takes a dump after a moment or two. Will have to get out the test light one morning. Not really my cup of tea first thing in the cold but only way to be sure.
Also lost 1st and 2nd gear right before the snowstorm here in NY, the bushings at the bottom of the shifter rod were missing and broken. In a pinch cut up some 240 endlinks I had in the scrap bin to make solid bushings
