57-65 Fuel Injection

[Brian E.]

Re: 57-65 Fuel Injection

Cool. I've been speaking with Jim on other matters. I'll chat with him about this the next time we speak. Thanks Harold.

[Todd H.]

Re: 57-65 Fuel Injection

Brian, for whatever it's worth, my experience with my '57 FI is that the units are more reliable than they're given credit for. I've owned my '57 for a little over 6 years, and I have not needed to touch the fuel unit. Of course, it was rebuilt and tuned by some very talented people right before I bought the car. I think the key is having someone that knows what they're doing go through your FI, and then leaving it alone. Avoid tinkeritis. Sure, I've replaced plugs, wires and points since I bought the car. I knew when I have been dissatisfied with how my 283 was running to not automatically blame the FI.

My only issue has been the lower boiling point of today's gas. I think I need to place an insulator between the baseplate and the spider. But that's it. I believe that later units are generally more reliable than '57s.

[Brian E.]

Re: 57-65 Fuel Injection

Thanks guys for all this good information.

[John D.]

Re: 57-65 Fuel Injection

Brian, I highly suggest you pay a qualified appraiser or a team of NCRS master judges to look at the '65 fuel car before you buy it.
A high percentage of the '65 units have the serial number of the car or at least part of it on the passenger side of the plenum. The numbers are typically on the big boss that has a fitting for the distributor vacuum advance. But it may be a tad further back. If the stamping looks like it belongs in a museum that is suspicious.
Fuel: Today a fellow called complaining that he was having trouble idling his car at a stop sign. I asked what the temperature was in his town and what kind of fuel he was using. He said it was 101 degrees and he was using '93 ethanol.
I told him he didn't have a chance with that combo.
Good luck with your purchase. John D

[Harold W.]

Re: 57-65 Fuel Injection

John, very good advice. Regarding running a Fuelie in summer temperatures, I had reported on that a few years ago, and one of the responses was something to the effect of, if it's over 85 F, leave it in the garage, and don't do parades! Last weekend was the first cool day here in weeks, and I decided to go for a ride. Never got it in gear, as the engine fuel pump shot a load of fuel right up to the underside of the open hood. I always leave the hood open when I start my Vettes, as I'm nervous about old cars and problems. Found a place that rebuilds units correctly, it's an original 40083, and getting it back today. Hopefully, no other surprises. Carlisle is just around the corner. Harold Wrede

[Don B.]

Re: 57-65 Fuel Injection

I agree with John D completely. Our summers here in Texas are always hot and around 100 degrees. I could never find a combination of fuels/additives/avgas that would allow my 62 fuelie to idle properly after it was warmed up. After having it rebuilt, I switched to Sunoco racing fuel which advertises 110 octane. I think it is the equivalent of the old 106 octane. Anyway, it now runs perfectly in our hot weather with no problems and I can use the full 36 degrees timing advance.

[James G.]

Re: 57-65 Fuel Injection

Assuming this '65 fuelie is at factory specification, it's probably best to run somewhere around 100 octane racing fuel. I use 100 octane LL aviation fuel, and mine runs very well. It'll probably run on 93 octane with ethanol, but surely not the best. Correct fuel injection units and engines are usually not difficult to verify, but it can be another story to prove that the engine and fuel injector unit is original to the car, as it came from the factory. There's an old list of VIN numbers and fuel injection serial numbers in the Noland Adams book. Here is one site that keeps track. jim@vettefinderjim.com

Thanks Harold. DREW PAPSUN and I have kept the records of 1965 Fuel Injection Corvettes since 1977 when Carl Cruz started the Survey. Today we have 614 of the original 711 vin numbers identified from real cars [ coupes and convertibles ], engines and just units with vin identification. We have found about 15 original units for car owners over the years. Story is here

https://www.vettefinderjim.com/1965-fuel-injection-survey.html

[Dave S.]

Re: 57-65 Fuel Injection

Thanks Harold. DREW PAPSUN and I have kept the records of 1965 Fuel Injection Corvettes since 1977 when Carl Cruz started the Survey. Today we have 614 of the original 711 vin numbers identified from real cars [ coupes and convertibles ], engines and just units with vin identification. We have found about 15 original units for car owners over the years. Story is here
https://www.vettefinderjim.com/1965-...on-survey.html

I am fortunate enough to own 1965 #11045 that had it original FI unit reunited after a 45 year absence. Jim found the unit in 2013 and was able to connect it to the car through his registry. Many thanks to Jim and Drew for their efforts over many years.

[Michael G.]

Re: 57-65 Fuel Injection

Fuel injection has gotten a bad rap over the years, for reasons that were sometimes deserved and sometimes not so much.

I think the bottom line on this is fairly simple: In stock form, they run well when set up properly, the proper fuel is used, and the fuel is kept cool.

I have two units that Jerry rebuilt almost ten years ago. After his rebuilds, I have never adjusted anything on either of them except slight idle tweaks when required. I'll send them back to Jerry if more than that is ever required. Its guys who think they know what they're doing and start adjusting the unit that have problems.

Mine have never preformed badly in all that time, unless I put ethanol fuel in the tank. Then all bets are off. I've recently found that they tend to run better on pure 110 racing fuel than on a mixture of racing fuel and 93 octane no-ethaol fuel. Its expensive fuel, but its not an economy car; besides FI gets much better mileage than a carb.

We rarely see 100 degrees here in Michigan, but those temps will generally effect a FI unit. I have found that, if the fuel is kept cool until it enters the fuel meter, the engine will run fine, no matter the ambient temperature. I recently drove one of Jerry's units for almost an hour, in 95 degree temps, through stop and go traffic, with plenty of long red lights. The fuel was kept cool and the engine never even hesitated, the idle never cycled, and it re-started easily after a brief stop. The fuel was kept cool by a method I developed, but there are a number of ways to do it, some more effective than others.

(note that I also have a unit rebuilt by John D, its beautiful, but I don't drive that car much, so I can't totally vouch for John yet, other than he's very helpful and knowledgeable)

I would't stay away from fuel injection unless your one of those guys who just has to tinker with it. Then avoid it like the plague.

[Gerald C.]

Re: 57-65 Fuel Injection

Ken Hansen did mine. 781-783-0815. Very Pleased. I believe he is Dale Pearman's nephew.

[Dave H.]

Re: 57-65 Fuel Injection

Ken Hansen did mine. 781-783-0815. Very Pleased. I believe he is Dale Pearman's nephew.

Ken is a sharp guy.