I have a 327 FI motor in a 67 Corvette. The conversion was done way back in the early 70s and was not available on the car from the factory. My friend did a nice job on it and it looks factory with the correct parts, bulkheads, etc.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o> <o></o> Anyway, my car is a driver and I want to convert it back to a period correct carb set up. My plan is to remove the FI set up and replace with a distributor (non FI), manifold and carb. The motor will retain the FI heads and cam (30-30). Note it is also not an original FI block, but it was built to those specs.<o></o> <o></o> Any thought on manifolds and carb? I'm considering the Chevy mid 60s manifolds (490 and 461). How will these work with the current cam?<o></o> <o></o> The end goal is to later (this winter) fully rebuild the motor with a hydraulic cam, etc. The car is a daily driver and I'm hoping to increase the reliability.<o></o> <o></o> Thanks in advance, Chuck<o></o>
The difference between the 365HP and 375HP is the 375 had FI, the 365HP used the aluminum high rise. There are much better manifolds but it doesn't get much more "correct" than one of those.
If memory serves me correctly both the 365 HP and the 375 HP both used all the same internals pistons, heads etc. and as stated above the difference was the 4 bbl carb (365 HP solid lifter). and the FI unit (375 HP solid lifter). The 350 HP engine in those years used the same pistons heads etc plus the 4 bbl. carb.. but they used a hydraulic camshaft. All were virtually the same engine with the exception of the induction and cam difference. I worked at a Chevy dealership as a parts counter man until 1966 and we sold many new performance crate engines and shortblocks in those years until uncle Sam came calling and had other plans for me in S.E. Asia. I personally bought several 365 and 350 HP crate engines in those years. I don't remember what my employee discount was but it was pretty hefty. Hope this helps. 408 AA/D
Exhaust manifolds are unique to the FI motor. Choke tube is on the LH side. Core support is different. You are going to have some hi-dollar parts on your hands! I would love to have a factory FI setup for my 32, but they are way outta my league. Dennis
Thanks all for the info. I will hate taking that unit off the car, but I think I'll enjoy the car more in the long run.
My .02 KEEP THE FI !! Be less trouble than a Holley. They really were a simple design but pricey to build compared to a carb.
Can I have the FI set up???? Ha-Ha! I rebuilt a '57 unit back in the day and it was no more difficult than a carb rebuild. Keep it little buddy. It's better than any carb!
Have you checked with any Corvette fuel injection experts yet? Just my 2 cents, but it seems that you could work out the bugs in your system and have it reliable, instead of swapping off that setup for a carburetor (which will have bugs to work out as well anyway). Check out the links below: http://www.jerrybramlett.net/tips.html http://www.jackpodellfuelinjections.com/
google Jack Podell and he could talk with you quite intelligently in reference to the FI unit. If you would rather just run the 67 aluminum intake and carb I'd be happy to trade you a nice dated (67) set and any other parts you might need. I've got plenty of 67 vette stuff as well as several 67's around and live about 20 minutes from Manassas to boot. As far as the FI unit goes they can be problematic now days due to the density of modern day fuel without the lead added. Bye the way that bit does come from Jack Podell himself. I built a 63 FI car 2 years ago for a guy and have been thru alot of the differences between them and carb cars. The units as the other guys have stated are fairly simple but can be a bitch if you aren't familiar. I have a 61 fuelie that will be showing up next week for some quick repair work and I always thought it ran nicely. Please let me know if you need any help.
When I was around 15 years old my dad owned a small general store in a small town in Bismarck Mo. Guys that were a few years older would stop in the store on Friday and Saturday nights to buy their booze for the weekend and bs out on the parking lot. Most of the guys worked in the city (St. Louis) at the car factorys (one of each at the time) and would be ready to party/race come the weekend. Let me see if I can remember...Sonny with his 66 SS 396 Chevelle, Tom with the 67 440 GTX, Monty with his 429 Cobra Jet Torino, Chuck with the SS 396 El Camino, Bobby Dale with a Boss 302, Cunningham's 55 Chevy, Chuck Franz just back from Ca. with a yellow 56 Chevy 2 dr post with black tuck n roll interior, well you can all relate I'm sure. Another one of the guys was Charlie Tucker. Out of all the group he was the one that most parents didn't like, so naturally he was the one that I thought was the coolest! Charlie almost always had a Corvette, if not, another cool ride. One Friday night he comes into the store to get some beer and says to me "come see my new car" I still remember that night (45 years ago) when I walked outside. A new black '65 FI Corvette convertable with white leather interior. "Let's go for a ride" Dad's store was on the edge of town and there was a nice straight heading east. About third gear I said to myself "one of these days I will have one of these" Well, I did get a 65, and no I never got the fuel unit for it. It was a factory 365 hp though. And now to the point, I cannot believe that you are going to take that FI unit off of the car. Yes I know that it isn't factory, but unless you are doing a restoration on it why do it? A Holly ain't gonna run any better and I have yet to see anything that looks nicer that a 63-65 Rocheste unit. Sorry for the long reply, but it stirs memories............Dennis
Man sure does have a point. Those FI units sure are pretty and if you add lead additive to your fuel you can even make them run better than on the shit that flows from the pump today. If you really must change it out tho....let me know and I may be able to find some of the correct pieces or get you in touch with a guy who can. If you are changing it out so you can have a factory perfect NCRS blue ribbon points car think long and hard about what kind of trailer queen you will end up with. I came to the HAMB after owning several of the Top Flight cars and havin lost interest in that whole process. From now on I'm sticking to the hot rods.
>>>>,Back in '65 ,,,when i was in the Air Force in Anchorage Alaska ,i put a 265 bored .125 over to 283 in my '54 Ford pee cup ,,,with a 30-30 Duntov cam ,,and '62 FI Heads and a '62 Rochester F I ,,ran that setup for a year anna half ,,winter & summer ,,ran great ,,started great in 30 below zero temps ,, i screwed up when i sold the F I and went to two AFB's ,,then three Rochester 2GC;s ,, ,,the thing NEVER ran as good as it did with the Rochester F I ,, Keep the "Fuelie" ,,it's a lot better than you think ,,
>>>>>,My '62 Rochester F I looked alot like the earier versions ,'cept no fins on top ,,it was smooth ,,the '63 and later versions looked a lot neeter ,with the removable chrome top ,, back in the late '60's ,,my buddy had a '64 'Vette M/P race car ,,we removed the side throttle body ,,made a new top ,and mounted TWO throttle body's on the new top ,,..,,went like "Stink",, i see now there's outfits doing big F I throttle body's they call ,,"Toilet Bowls" ,,they look alot like what we did way back when ,, Crazy thing tho ,,a Rochester F I Rebuild Kit in the '60's cost $12.95 from the local Chevy Dealer ,,i rebuilt a lot of em back then for Alaska Sales & Service ,,our G M Dealer up there ,,,, hate tho think what they cost now ,,but heck ,,a Q-Jet & a AFB kit cost $4.95 back then too ,,Holley kits were a buck more ,, Jeez,,,where has the time gone ,, anyway ,,,Keep the Rochester F I,,it's a heck of a lot more "Neeter" than a stupid carburater ,,
Sorry I did not get back to this thread earlier, but have been down to the Charlotte Auto Fair. Great time. Ok, I'm convinced, I'm keeping the FI, but will run a carb set up while it gets rebuilt. I'd also like to find someone in the Manassas area the knows about the unit. But you are correct, when it runs its great and it does look cool. Thanks for all the replies. Chuck
Hogdriver, I'm keeping the FU, but may be interested in a period correct set up. Did you say you have parts? Thanks, Chuck
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