The greatest FI machinist you've never heard of.

[G B.]

If you're hip-deep in Rochester fuel injection restoration, then you've needed some repair parts that were never offered as individual service replacements through GM. I'm talking about gear sets for high pressure pumps, fuel valves for sand-cast fuel meters, internal pistons for cold enrichment housings, steel sleeves for '57 - '59 spill valves, and exotic threaded fitting inserts. Then there are also the tiny cosmetic repair items like fast idle cam screws, point hold-down screws for '57 FI distributors, and male threaded fittings on spider feed tubes.

All of the above items have been available in dead-nuts correct form from only one source for the last 20 years: a shy machinist in Newark, Ohio named Rollin Jones.

Rollin is too sick right now to return to his home machine shop anytime soon. Actually, I doubt he'll ever make it back to work. He is even older than me, and has cancer with other serious health complications. I just wanted to tell the NCRS membership how much the injection world has benefited from Rollin's machining skills without most ever realizing it. I can't imagine how anyone can ever duplicate his work in the future.

The photo below shows some of his work. That fuel valve is made .001" oversize. The diameter can then be polished to create the proper .0005" clearance in the fuel meter bore.

MVC-001S.JPG

[Michael J.]

Re: The greatest FI machinist you've never heard of.

Thanks, very good to know this. I hope his health improves.

[Mark S.]

Re: The greatest FI machinist you've never heard of.

Thank you very much for sharing this information! Information like this, is valuable for the future, and must not be lost.

[G B.]

Re: The greatest FI machinist you've never heard of.

Rollin Jones died this afternoon. I had so hoped he could read my post before he passed, but it was not to be.

[Mark S.]

Re: The greatest FI machinist you've never heard of.

My condolences!

[Leo G.]

[Danny P.]

Re: The greatest FI machinist you've never heard of.

My Condolences

[Paul Y.]

Re: The greatest FI machinist you've never heard of.

thanks for sharing this Gerry, will be praying for his family

[Chuck G.]

Re: The greatest FI machinist you've never heard of.

Rollin rebuilt the gear pump from my 63 FI car several years ago.

RIP Rollin.

[James W.]

Re: The greatest FI machinist you've never heard of.

Gerry,

True Craftsmen such as Rollin are becoming fewer all the time. May he rest in peace.


James

[Gary R.]

Re: The greatest FI machinist you've never heard of.

Very sorry to hear of this. I did not know him as I never owned a FI car but by your description, he sounds like the guys I worked with as a kid out of trade school. Most of those guys were WWII vets and had knowledge beyond what we see today, old time, non-CNC, machinist and toolmakers. Nothing wrong with present CNC guys, it is the future, but those old timers were a special breed. Most of those I knew are gone now, what I call the 2nd gen of toolmakers I knew were Vietnam vets from the mid 60s, again sharp guys. One friend is left but he's getting close to 80 now, he is a car guy and sharp. My condolences.

[John D.]

Re: The greatest FI machinist you've never heard of.

Jerry, Thanks so much for a posting a photo of a few items Rollin made. I doubt there will never be another Rollin Jones. He could fix most anything to do with fuel injections etc. Parts one would throw away he would make them look like new.
The fuel injection world is in trouble now. The Restorers and Car owners I mean.
If you have a pressure gear pump that needs more than carbon bushings, & a shaft and seal kit then troubles for sure


But forgetting all that I told him on the phone all we want is for him to survive. To be well enough to lead a normal life. Forget the business he had I told him. Time to retire. But....
Now he's no longer suffering and God is taking care of him. May he rest in peace.
It's a very sad day.

[George J.]

Re: The greatest FI machinist you've never heard of.

Thank you, Gerry, for making us aware of him. I hope he rests in peace, and has no more pain.

George

[G B.]

Re: The greatest FI machinist you've never heard of.

Rollin was the only person who could salvage a jammed 4360 cold enrichment mechanism piston. In fact, he could make a new one.

He could also replace the bushings in the air meter housing for a '57 - '62 butterfly shaft. This vertical shaft wasn't designed to be centered in the air meter bore, nor was it centered in the bushing inserts. A worn lower bushing would cause the butterfly to wear into the air meter bore. It would also cause an erratic idle speed.

I don't know who will end up with the supply of reproduction gear pump center sections. Maybe Sharon Parsons can find out; she's in Ohio.

Rollin bent over backwards to please his customers. He took great pride in everything he did in his shop. He never turned down a request from me... even if I was asking him to do an experimental, never-tried repair. He would also surprise me with special hand tools and measuring gauges he had made.

He was an honest, humble, and hard-working guy who just wanted to be appreciated for his skills. The money was not his motivation. This hobby could stand to have a lot more repairmen like him.

[Jake M.]

Re: The greatest FI machinist you've never heard of.

RIP Rollin

I enjoyed our long phone chats.
It was great to listen to his experiences in the Airforce, as a drag strip starter, machining, his wife, etc.
Not only did he work his magic on my 300 pump but I later sent him a few t10 side covers to repair.
I wish I could have met him in person.