64 FI Vacuum/air Hose Thickness?

[Larry M.]

I bought a FI hose kit to replace all of the small short hoses on my 64; some cracked, others not. There are three hoses which I'm wondering if I should try to keep the ones on my car or buy NOS. All of the new parts are "thin" rubber with no reinforcing cord. Any help would be appreciated.

1. The hose which connects the forward balance tube to the air cleaner adapter on the air meter - mine is really thick and has cord imbedded in it. I'm thinking it is factory....is it?

2. There is a hose which forms a short elbow which runs from a pressed in fitting in the air plenum to a fitting in the top of the fuel meter. Again, mine looks like a piece of reinforced fuel line and not just rubber...what is right? I saw a pic online of what might be an original which looks like mine but most show the thin rubber peice.

3. The large diameter elbow (PN 7014946 I think) under the air meter to feed the idle air tubes. Mine is thin like the kit but likely replaced before. I see the PN for sale on ebay (thick wall) with the caution that judges want to see the thick tube. I know ebay is not a qualified NCRS source of information so I'm asking folks who likely know.

Thanks for your comments

[John D.]

Re: 64 FI Vacuum/air Hose Thickness?

HI Larry, Sounds like the hose kit you bought is correct except for the fuel meter vent hose. Original that hose was reinfoced with a cord. The rubber had a distinctive pattern to it. Very rare hose.
I should have used your numbering system.
1. Should be thin wall hose. Thick hose with cord is auto store hose
2. Answered in first sentence.
3. Ebay elbow is service replacement. Original 90 degree elbow is has a seam and is thin wall. There are elbows on Ebay right now for sale. All are SR's. Just because it's in a GM/RP bag doesn't mean it's correct.
Life span of thin wall hose kits appears to be at least 8 years or so.
If you have a driver and don't care about appearance then use the thick unattractive hose from auto stores.

Story: I just took apart a NOS '63 unit. An early NOS unit unlike some we have seen for sale not long ago.
All the hoses are think wall hose except for the vent hose.
Elbow is seamed just like the good repro.

Some NOS FI hose in bags is ribbed Some thing this is correct from the St. Louis assembly line. If that is so let me say that the ribbed hose would not be typical of the entire production.

Years ago when Brian Futo said the Balance tube hose was almost 2" he was correct. To the eyeball it looks 2". But it was a tad shorter.
Tip for all: A troublesome hose may be the chrome balance tube to air cleaner adapter. Make sure that there is clearance between the rubber hose and the choke rod (somewhat L shaped part). If not attend to that.
There is a repro choke rod or two on the market that is bent incorrectly. It has a tendency to hit the rubber hose during choke operation and then the choke doesn't work for crap. John

[Chuck S.]

Re: 64 FI Vacuum/air Hose Thickness?

John;
Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us FI owners. I always make a point to read your postings and have learned a lot over the years.

[John D.]

Re: 64 FI Vacuum/air Hose Thickness?

Your most welcome. at my age my goal is to tell as much as possible about what I have learned since 1961. Because it's of it is not in the books. Thanks. John