1964 Convertible: Fuel Injection originality- Help Requested

[David R.]

I would like to ask for some help. I recently purchased a 1964 Convertible 116595 with "Fuel Injection" and I am trying to determine if the car is truly an originally equipped L84 car.

Using the Judging Guide, I have established this car was built in April and the trim tag indicates B12 or a Feb body build (AO Smith???). The body build number does not have an "S" or "A" prefix. The trim tag also indicates this car was originally silver with red interior

From pictures I received with the purchase, this car had an under dash fire sometime around 1968-1969. The first owner sold the car to the second owner and the second owner "rebuilt" and showed the car. He repainted the car red and installed a black interior.

The second owner installed a telescoping column and teak steering wheel (which is great for me), but not correct for a 64. The car has 5 knock offs but the dates are not correct. I don't know what else he may have "added" to the car.

The car sat parked in the second owner's garage until be passed on sometime in the 2013-2015 timeframe.

The engine that came with the car is the correct 3782870 RF code engine block with a A284 date code, but the VIN derivative does not match the car.

The Fuel injection unit I received with the car has been professionally rebuilt, but I question if it is original to the car. It appears to be a 1963 unit (two balance tubes). Did early 1964 cars use the 1963 style unit?

What should I be looking for on this car that will tell me about the originality of this car as being a real Fuelie?

[Dan H.]

Re: 1964 Convertible: Fuel Injection originality- Help Requested

Hi David, the best way to ID a real 1964 FI car is to check the fender V flag emblems location. On non FI cars in 64, the flags were installed an inch farther forward than on the FI cars. On the FI cars the emblem is the same as a 1963 location. This permits the FI emblem to locate properly through the rear bonding strip. Check and see if there are filled in holes for the V flags having ever been mounted in the forward position. FI unit not really correct for your Vin number, or maybe a service replacement? What is the Vin on the RF engine?

[Joe L.]

Re: 1964 Convertible: Fuel Injection originality- Help Requested

I would like to ask for some help. I recently purchased a 1964 Convertible 116595 with "Fuel Injection" and I am trying to determine if the car is truly an originally equipped L84 car.

Using the Judging Guide, I have established this car was built in April and the trim tag indicates B12 or a Feb body build (AO Smith???). The body build number does not have an "S" or "A" prefix. The trim tag also indicates this car was originally silver with red interior

From pictures I received with the purchase, this car had an under dash fire sometime around 1968-1969. The first owner sold the car to the second owner and the second owner "rebuilt" and showed the car. He repainted the car red and installed a black interior.

The second owner installed a telescoping column and teak steering wheel (which is great for me), but not correct for a 64. The car has 5 knock offs but the dates are not correct. I don't know what else he may have "added" to the car.

The car sat parked in the second owner's garage until be passed on sometime in the 2013-2015 timeframe.

The engine that came with the car is the correct 3782870 RF code engine block with a A284 date code, but the VIN derivative does not match the car.

The Fuel injection unit I received with the car has been professionally rebuilt, but I question if it is original to the car. It appears to be a 1963 unit (two balance tubes). Did early 1964 cars use the 1963 style unit?

What should I be looking for on this car that will tell me about the originality of this car as being a real Fuelie?

David-------


One thing that comes to my mind: if the car had an under dash fire I'm surprised that the aluminum trim tag came through essentially unscathed. Plus, from what I can see in the photo, the rivets securing it appear different from one another. So, I wonder if this is the original trim tag for this car?

[John D.]

Re: 1964 Convertible: Fuel Injection originality- Help Requested

Hi David, Good luck on your 1964 fuel car. Looking in the spec guide I see that 16595 is a very late April '64 car.
Your FI unit is '63 and early '64. Early '64 could have used your unit. Early means November 63 and may be a few days into December 63. But at the same time Flint engine was installing the 70117380 unit. There seems to be a short span time when they installed both units. Most likely to use up inventory.. And also because Rochester Products was sneaking in the 7017375R units when they were told otherwise. This tidbit came from an old friend at RP.
Anyhow you car is at least a midyear so the FI unit would be incorrect.
I wonder if the dash fire ruined the engine starting wiring harness. The 7017380 unit (''64-'65) had a burgundy microswitch controlling a Skiner valve for starting. The switch had a purple wiring harness on it that plugged into the engine starting wiring harness. See the '64 aims for an illustration. On this aims sheet it also gives the dimension for stalling the emblems. But difficult to r ead.
Anyhow the purple harness plugged into the neutral safety switch wiring for cars that had an automatic transmission. So your connectors if the harness is original would be tangling or exposed for one to plug in the purple harness. The harness had one mini terminal that connected to the bottom of the microswitch. Then the harness branched out into a "Y" shape. Plugging into your starting harness with two terminals-plugs.
As Dan mentioned location of both the flag and the fuel injection emblem can be a way of determing if real or not. Also the holes in the left inner fender for the air cleaner.
An late April car would probably have an engine build date of early April. There the FI distributor for that car would be an "070. I don't think the distributor would be an "063 but would have to look at my charts. John

[Hugh G.]

Re: 1964 Convertible: Fuel Injection originality- Help Requested

I find you post quite interesting. I have a very early (Sept 28, 1962) 63 SWC with a 64 FI and K66 units on it. The unit is on the car and I can't remember the date on the under side of the plenum. If your unit is off the car can you look at that date. If it were to be an early 63 unit and you were so inclined would you consider a trade?? Hugh

[John D.]

Re: 1964 Convertible: Fuel Injection originality- Help Requested

I find you post quite interesting. I have a very early (Sept 28, 1962) 63 SWC with a 64 FI and K66 units on it. The unit is on the car and I can't remember the date on the under side of the plenum. If your unit is off the car can you look at that date. If it were to be an early 63 unit and you were so inclined would you consider a trade?? Hugh

Hugh, Don't worry about the unseen date on the intake manifold. AKA baseplate. Just be concerned that the unit itself is correct. Nice that two of you can help each other out. John

[David R.]

Re: 1964 Convertible: Fuel Injection originality- Help Requested

Thanks for all the great responses.

Based on your input: I found the fender badges have been moved and the old holes filled. I am not certain the trim tag was destroyed in the fire, but agree that the rivets don't look identical. The date code on the trim tag appears inconsistent with the late April build.

The first picture attached shows the trim tag in place after the fire....... but that still doesn't mean it wasn't later changed. The body color in the picture looks white not Silver. The interior color in the picture is consistent with trim tag.

The last picture is the engine compartment. No FI distributor, and right side alternator mount?????? But lots of people also took the FI units off and swapped a carb setup too.