'57 FI unit numbers

[Jean C.]

I have been asked about #'s on a '57 283hp FI unit. I am into something here that I am not at all familar with so I looked up some info in a book at a friends shop and came up with the following. The fellow looking at the unit confirmed the air & fuel meter numbers but the model no was different and I do not recall what number he observed.

FI Model Number = 7014960 (I assume this is stamped somewhere on the dog house?)
FI Serial Number = 1001 - 1326 (Where is this stamped?)
Air Meter Number = 7014801 (Where on the air side is this stamped?)
Fuel Meter Number = 7014962 (Where is the fuel side is this stamped?)

Are these the correct numbers for the '57 283hp unit? Thanks for the help.

Best regards,
Charlie

[G B.]

Charlie, I'm not sure what you're asking,but...

There were four different series of FI units built by Rochester for the '57 model year: 7014360, 7014520, 7014800, and 7014960.

The first design, the "4360", was a real smokin' turd of a unit. Most of these were replaced by GM under warranty with 4520 and 4800 units. Many of the 4800 units were actually slightly revised 4520 units. The 4960 was the last design used in '57, and one of the most rare. The excess number of 4520 and 4800 units built during 1957 were later installed on injected 1959 Corvettes as 7017300 model units, but I guess you can't really consider them '57 units at that point because they had a different air meter.

The unit "model number" and "serial number" are stamped into a data plate located on the left front of the plenum. Well, except for the early 4360 units which didn't have a data plate. The serial numbers started over at 1001 with each model number change. Well, except for the early 4360 units which started at 101.

Most '57 air meter numbers are stamped into an oval-shaped surface machined on the rear side of the air meter. Most fuel meter numbers were stamped into the fuel bowl near the bottom on the outside. On most '57 units you will also find serial numbers stamped into the air meter and fuel meter after the part numbers. These serial numbers will not match each other or the serial number on the plenum data plate. Some 4800 units will have 4520 part numbers on their air and fuel meters.

Does any of this information come close to answering your question?