'60 Fuelie inspection tag mystery

[Florian W.]

I recently bought a repo inspection tag for my car from Paragon. They gave the info on my car to whoever makes the tags: vehicle build date 3/8/60, F.I. unit p/n 7017320, serial# 104706. When we received the tag, it seemed to have the appropriate date and inspection stamps on it, but it was stamped with p/n 7017250, not 7017320 as requested. I expect that whoever makes the tags knows much more about this than me, but I'd like some explanation on this. Brian Futo's article on the subject of these tags mentions that he had not yet seen a tag with a 7017320 number on it - I suppose that comment could be related to my confusion. Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Lee

[John D.]

Re: '60 Fuelie inspection tag mystery

Lee, Brian and I have been friends for many years. Both of us are highly opinionated to say the least. Some of the FI guys agree with us and some don't.
At the NCRS National Convention in Bowling Green in 2000 there was an original 61 black fuel car there with a 7320 unit on it. The car was the real deal throughout. It just so happened it had an original fuel meter inspection tag.
Brian typically puts me to the test especially in front of a lot of people as he gets off on that. So he said to me.(we met that weekend in person at the Corvette Assembly plant standing in line waiting to go on a tour) "DeGregory I am going to see how smart you are. What the is so special about this 61 FI car that you won't see in any of the other 60-61 fuel cars here."?
Well luckily for me I had been looking at the bow tie car before because I had done a little business with the owner. My answer was the black 61 was the only 60-61 car at the huge show that had the correctly marked inspection tag. The tag read 7017250. So the Paragon tag is correct. Brian was impressed but continued to put me on test. More some other time.
But not all the FI guys buy this info. The world is used to seeing the 7017320 marked inspection tags on the 7320 units.

Background on the tag. The inspection tag we are talking about is NOT for the entire fuel injection. It is JUST for the fuel meter. The fuel meter is on the passenger side where your fuel filter attaches to.
In late 59 RP came out with a newly designed and improved fuel meter with a built in anti-siphon valve. In fact they came out with two of them. Both the same castings. One was stamped 7017202(or just 202) and the other was stamped 7017252. (or just 252) The 252 was used on the 7017250 FI unit. Very late 59 and maybe early 60 FI cars. The inspection tag-triangle tag said 7017250!!! Well in 60-61 the same fuel meter was used on the high HP 7320 units. Consequently the identical inspection tag was used. 7017250.
Recap: 59 to 61 high HP with a die cast fuel meter all used the same casting stamped 7017252 or just 252. So they all used the 7017250 triangle inspection tag. Whew!!!
(The 202 fuel meter was used on the low HP cars.)

Not 7017320. Brian and old JD here have never seen an original 7017320 stamped foil tag. Maybe someone else has though.

[Tom P.]

Re: '60 Fuelie inspection tag mystery

But, but, but---------------------how do you explain this one?
And there is no number stamped on the fuel meter!

[Michael H.]

Re: '60 Fuelie inspection tag mystery

But, but, but---------------------how do you explain this one?

Or this one....

[Loren L.]

Re: '60 Fuelie inspection tag mystery

To get even more basic, when does the switchover from 7300 units to 7320 units occur in 1960?

[Norbert R.]

Re: '60 Fuelie inspection tag mystery

How about mine John? #252 base, Nov.59 car. see pic's I just took...
do you remember?

[John D.]

Re: '60 Fuelie inspection tag mystery

Or this one....

Mikey, Your tag may have come from the Fi choke modification kit for the midyears. 7029712.

[John D.]

Re: '60 Fuelie inspection tag mystery

How about mine John? #252 base, Nov.59 car. see pic's I just took...
do you remember?

Norbert, Back then we just didn't know about the 7320 tags. Your tag is an old repro. Sorry. JD

[John D.]

Re: '60 Fuelie inspection tag mystery

I would say that the biggest pain in the butt when restoring FI's or even selling parts is those inspection tags. I mean when you think about how many combinations of those thin foil tags there are.
Someone needs to write another article on the inspection tags like Brian Futo did about 25-30 years ago. Not me though. JD

[Michael H.]

Re: '60 Fuelie inspection tag mystery

Mikey, Your tag may have come from the Fi choke modification kit for the midyears. 7029712.

Nope. I've had a bunch of those kits and none had a tag. I think I still have one or two.

[John D.]

Re: '60 Fuelie inspection tag mystery

Only the very early 57 inspection tags had the paper punch Tom. Several configurations were used on at least the 4520 inspection tags. I never saw them after that although Dan Holstein I believe got a ding because his 64 tag didn't have the punched hole. Course that was an error.
Nice tag Parsons. Very rare unit you have there. Neat. Is that tag thicker than a typical repro. Mic it for me sometime please. Thanks, JD

[John D.]

Re: '60 Fuelie inspection tag mystery

You didn't ask this but there is another triangle inspection tag that also is controversial.
How many of you have ever seen a real deal 57 7014960 foil tag???
It has been said but not proven that if you own a '4960 FI unit the inspection tag would read 7014800.

[Florian W.]

Re: '60 Fuelie inspection tag mystery

John,

Thanks for your extensive reply - while the debate may still rage, I'm comfortable enough with your explanation to install the repo tag that I have.

Regards,
Lee