C1 Fuel Injection Serial Numbers
Were the fuel injection models started with serial number 1001 or 0001? Then, did the first car using that model get number 1 or were they like the engines to cars, first in last out sort of? If one in ten cars for a model year were injected, would it follow that car number 300 would get fuel injection serial number 1030 or 0030 which ever is the correct scheme?
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David Dawdy -
Re: C1 Fuel Injection Serial Numbers
David, It is my understanding that they just took the Fuel units off the shelf in no particular order. Don H. -
Re: C1 Fuel Injection Serial Numbers
Dave,
Fuel units began with 1001. There is a general correlation between fuel unit serial numbers and car build dates, but nothing specific. Like engines, trannies, etc., it was not a first in/first out system. At the same time, Rochester didn't build a couple thousand 1962 units in August of 1961, and have them all sitting there waiting for the cars to be built.
Another thing that throws calculations off is the 7017320 unit that was used on 60-61 cars. As the 61 model year began, they simply continued with serial numbers on 7320 units where they left off in 1960.
I have been keeping track of unmolested 62 FI relationships for 40 years. Anyone who says there is no relationship between FI unit serial numbers and build dates of the FI cars either has spent no time researching them or, more likely, has a car that has a replacement unit on it that doesn't correspond to the car.
Simply said: earlier cars have lower number FI units: later cars have later units.Comment
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Re: C1 Fuel Injection Serial Numbers
Thanks, Mike. You and I spoke generally about this several years ago with regard to my 1960. The unit I purchased for the car is a high number, in the four hundreds. Car serial number is 2348, an early January car. I am very certain that I have located the original unit, it is number 1018. If every 10th car was injected this seems low. But I am very happy to have found the unit after 30 years of looking!David DawdyComment
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Re: C1 Fuel Injection Serial Numbers
Perhaps someone like John Blanchette (sp?), retired from RPE, could provide some insight of the number of units normally making up a "shipment" from RPE and the # of shipments made. It would seem that the larger #s would occur at the start of the model year.Comment
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Re: C1 Fuel Injection Serial Numbers
Last in - first out would seem to support that for each batch. I guess these were installed at the engine plant?
Was each unit set up at Rochester?David DawdyComment
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Re: C1 Fuel Injection Serial Numbers
Is it a 7017200, 7017250, 7017300, 7017310 or a 7017320?Comment
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Re: C1 Fuel Injection Serial Numbers
Loren -
7320David DawdyComment
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Re: C1 Fuel Injection Serial Numbers
Thanks all,David DawdyComment
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Re: C1 Fuel Injection Serial Numbers
David, Been watching this post but have been keeping quiet. After I reread your initial post I realized that you were fully aware that the unit that you have been looking for is in fact too early for your car. But all is not lost as rumor has it a tag is available that is dead nuts.
I do like Rev. Mike's reply on his 40 year collection of info on serial numbers. Dale Pearman used to work on that along with Mike. Was Dale's and Mikes' passion as I recall.
I like the numbers on the tag from Richard's Jan '60. Wouldn't want the numbers to be any lower. I would suspect if you showed your car with a tag reading 1018 the good judges would ding you as surely one might think there were more than 17--18 of '7320 units used up by Jan '60. John DComment
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Re: C1 Fuel Injection Serial Numbers
John, I'm not sure that a Knowledgable judge would do anything to the #18 unit on Dave's car. Please remember that 7320 units were a RUNNING CHANGE in 1960, caused by RPE's desire to get rid of adaptors, etc of the oid styles (finned plenums, etc) before the flat plenums came in. There are engine shots of #2272 in the pits at both Sebring and Le Mans and it ran with a finned plenum and a 7300 unit. There is one photo of a Cunningham car being worked on by Dr. Dick on the roadside. It is a flat plenum 7320 but that car is known to be #3535. Pictures of the Cunningham cars at Le Mans are inconclusive because none used the original motors at Le Mans.
When the Cunningham cars returned to Momo's, the race motors were removed and sent back to Chevrolet for evaluation. The original motors were reinstalled, with the accompanying rumor that without NCRS' help only 1 ended up with the correct motor. The cars were given/sold to Bill Frick who was moving to Florida. Car #2538 ended being sold to Don Gist in FL, who frequented some road races, including Nassau in Dec 60, before converting over to drag racing. There are photos of 2538 in drag racing trim, including engine shots with a finned plenum but by then any presumption of "not changed" had gone by the Boards. There are 76 cars between mine and Dave's - maybe we can find the demarcation point.Comment
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Re: C1 Fuel Injection Serial Numbers
Hi Loren, Good information. I still fill though that taking the car to a Regional event with the 18th unit on a January car is going to send up a flag on the majority of the judges. I could be wrong though but on the other hand it seems that FI judging in our club could be a tad better.
I hate saying that but the statement appears to have some merit.
I also thought that the '59-60 Corvette owner that bought the car new got rooked when his car came in with a left over modified '57 FI unit. But that tidbit has nothing to do with the subject. JohnComment
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Re: C1 Fuel Injection Serial Numbers
John, changing JGs on the field is a daunting challenge, as it should be. What's maddening is the refusals to consider change. In this case, Dave
could come to the field with a written note from Frank Schabica of RPE confirming my car as a 7300, etc. Of course, the problem might be with all the Award winning cars 0-2200 that achieved them with 7320 units. It also helps that Dave is a longtime owner who has been chasing the racing history of this car for 15 years - traveled up many blind alleys and sideroads - and has finally struck the mother lode, the original family owners with a stash of original parts and pictures of the car, as raced, in SCCA's Sports Car magazine. Put the 58-60 Team Leader on Standby.Comment
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