7380 FI unit installed on a 300hp engine

[Edward M.]

I have always wanted a Rochester Fuel Injection unit, but unit recently I have never owned a car that it made sense to put a Rochester FI unit on.

My 1964 coupe now makes it reasonable.

My 64 coupe is an original 300 hp, 4 speed manual trans car, and still has the original engine, rebuilt to original specs as part of the recent restoration. The car / engine now has about 1400 miles on is since a complete frame off restoration.

It runs and drives great, after a bit of tweaking of odds and ends.

The car also has add on power steering and add on power brakes, both using GM parts (with a dual master brake cylinder). I also just had Vintage Air air conditioning added to the car.

The alternator was moved to the driver's side as part of the Vintage Air install.

I located an early 1964 7380 FI unit that was complete, had all of the correct parts, and appeared to be relatively unmolested. It came with a 1957 style air filter setup, which works well in my situation, at lest initially.

The FI unit is now completely restored, tested on the restorer's test car, and is pretty much ready to be installed on my car.

Now here is my question:

I am NOT planning on changing the camshaft or the pistons in the engine. I am leaving the 300 hp engine as is, just replacing the intake, carb and distributor with the Rochester FI unit.

The guys that know Rochester FI units have told me that they don't anticipate any problems / issues with this arrangement, assuming the FI unit and distributor are tuned to the 300 hp engine. The rebuilder is going to install and tune the FI unit himself.

Surprisingly, I cannot find anyone that has ever installed a Rochester FI unit on a lower hp engine. I am sure it has been done; I have seen Rochester FI units on all kinds of cars. I even recall seeing a gold plated Rochester FI unit installed on a 327 engine in a 1957 BelAir convertible back in the late 1980s. It was a show car, and not really a high performance engine, but I do not know the specs.

Anyone have any thoughts on what I can expect with this arrangement (besides fuel percolation )?

[Jim L.]

Re: 7380 FI unit installed on a 300hp engine

Ed,

From '57 thru '61 Rochester FI was available on hydraulic-lifter 283s which ran just fine.

FI doesn't know or care what engine it's on as long as that engine makes enough manifold vacuum to operate the idle fuel system, which your 300 HP engine will do.

Your 300 HP engine will run just fine.... like the 283s before it.

Jim

[Don H.]

Re: 7380 FI unit installed on a 300hp engine

Ed,
I have had a 7017375 unit on my completely stock 1965 300 HP, Powerglide, AC, etc for seven years now and it runs fine. It did take some adjusting and "tweeking" to get to this point, mainly because I am not a pro, just a do it your selfer. Contact me if you want any more info. Good luck,
Don H.

[Duke W.]

Re: 7380 FI unit installed on a 300hp engine

Be sure you have a spark advance map set up for the 300 HP engine, especially the VAC... should be a 15" B22 or equivalent. Since the 300 HP cams idles slower (500) with more vacuum than SHP cams it will pull in more fuel than on the 30-30 cam engines, so the idle air screw will have to be adjusted properly. Above idle speed and with any load, the FI system doesn't know what cam is installed because it meters fuel based on air flow, not manifold vacuum.

It would be best if the rebuilder can test and set up the system on a low overlap cam engine rather than an SHP type cam.

Duke

[Edward M.]

Re: 7380 FI unit installed on a 300hp engine

The distributor has a B22 canister on it. It is a 063 unit that Don Baker has massaged into the equivalent of an 070 unit. He also installed Breakerless SE system in the distributor

The rebuilder is going to do the final installation and adjustments on my engine, so the final adjustments will be specifically for the engine the FI unit will be installed on permanently.

I am going to use a 57 style air cleaner set up initially. I may ultimately go with a open air fliter (K&N cone style perhaps) in front of the radiator support with tubing running to the air meter.

I cannot use a factory style air cleaner setup because the alternator is now on the driver's side.

I am so looking forward to this.

[Joe R.]

Re: 7380 FI unit installed on a 300hp engine

Looks like to me you are using the correct rebuilder for your application and will be completely satisfied with his work! It ain't his first rodeo!

JR