Racing an FI car.

[Jerry G.]

Just got my letter of acceptance to Monterey races this August. Would like to put the original FI unit on and run it. Someone on this board told me about a person who sets up FI units for road racing. My car is a 64. I'm not sure how many CFM can be coaxed out of one of these units. Any help on who prepares them for racing. I vaguely remember it was someone in California.

[Dick W.]

Re: Racing an FI car.

Contact Jim Gessner who posts frequently on this board. You can email him at vettefinderjim@verizon.net I am sure that he can steer you in the right direction

[Steven B.]

Re: Racing an FI car.

Congratulations Jerry! That is a great event and an honor to run.

Steve

[John D.]

Re: Racing an FI car.

Jerry, If you can talk him into it one of the best in the USA is in CA. Chris Wickersham in Monrovia. Chris and I go way way back. He used to do a lot of FI's but I don't think he is anymore. Chris is highly involved with vintage racing.
Can't find his number. Maybe someone can email it to you.
Please do NOT post his number here. Please don't as I want to respect his privacy.

[Duke W.]

Re: Racing an FI car.

I'd love to see a chassis dyno test of the manifold/carb vs. FI, especially if the flow meter is masssaged.

Jim told my there is "a guy" who can get 750 CFM @ 1.5" Hg flow. He didn't say who, but it's probably Chris.

Duke

[Dick W.]

Re: Racing an FI car.

Jerry, If you can talk him into it one of the best in the USA is in CA. Chris Wickersham in Monrovia. Chris and I go way way back. He used to do a lot of FI's but I don't think he is anymore. Chris is highly involved with vintage racing.
Can't find his number. Maybe someone can email it to you.
Please do NOT post his number here. Please don't as I want to respect his privacy.

wcwickersham@earthlink.net

[James G.]

Re: Racing an FI car.

I'd love to see a chassis dyno test of the manifold/carb vs. FI, especially if the flow meter is masssaged.

Jim told my there is "a guy" who can get 750 CFM @ 1.5" Hg flow. He didn't say who, but it's probably Chris.

Duke

It is Chris Wickersham. He is quietly working out of his old Pasadena store. I will PM his address and email Jerry.
He modified my air meter on my old 64 silver / red roadster (Tom Cotter owns the car today and will be in your class). We got close to 750 CFM out of the old Rochester unit. That along with the 'big nozzels', an little work with the axel link, and interior clean up on the phlenum all help. Transistor ignition, and a MSD 6-AL box (hide it under the dash) provides great spark that gave me almost 2 sec. a lap better time.

Remember these days were 1989-94 when 1:51's were average, 1:47 was fast, and 1:45 put you on the pole. Today, 1:39-1:41 is not uncommon. So just remember it is 10 laps of "FUN". ENJOY the complete experience and other events as time permitts.

I will be at the event this year with my old Corvette race buddy Joe Freitas (SCCA CAL CLUB A/P Champ 1962 with his 61 Corvette he bought from Dave MacDonald). Joe will be racing his 69 'MO CARTER' Trans Am Camaro from Canada in group 7A on Saturday. Joe says this is his last race and he wants to sell the car after this great weekend.

[Jerry G.]

Re: Racing an FI car.

Thanks guys. Jim, I look forward to finally meeting you in person. Your old car was an inspiration to me, it's beautiful. Jerry

PS if any of you have an old beatup non original type FI unit for sale let me know. Jerry

[John D.]

Re: Racing an FI car.

63 to 65 air meter cone modification for more CFM's. Have a machinist bore out the center of the cone so that the back side of it is very thin as far as thickness goes. This really helps the FI's breath better.
Most likely though you will be shocked to see huge craters or holes in the casting as it seems to be like swiss cheese. Fill the craters in with expoxy.
I don't get involved with stuff like this but have seen it done.

A Grady Davis Gulf car that I helped do the grunt work on as a kid had an altered cone like this. A customer had it done to his 64 and could not believe how much more power he had.

Get rid of the poc original 63-65 air cleaner element and screen Jerry.
In it's place use a late 90's Ford AC element and spacer. Much better breathing.
This is all easy stuff to do with little bucks. The 7380 unit has either X or Y nozzles. Y's really dump a lot of gas. The nozzles were made by Detroit Diesel for RP. Detroit Diesel also made Z nozzles in the old days but i have never seen them.

[Jerry G.]

Re: Racing an FI car.

Thanks John, good stuff. Does the Ford element go into the original FI air cleaner can or do I build an air box and use a flat rectagular element?

[John D.]

Re: Racing an FI car.

Thanks John, good stuff. Does the Ford element go into the original FI air cleaner can or do I build an air box and use a flat rectagular element?

Jerry, Use your stock air cleaner assembly. Just remove the cone shaped inner screen and put it on the shelf.
Then go to your local NAPA store and buy nice NAPA Gold AC 6416.
Or go to Car Quest and order an E-0995 K&N and then get a Car Quest 88033. The 033 is a small round filter which is used as a spacer as the 6416&K&N is too short.
Now I am not a big K&N lover. Use to be but now prefer nice el cheepo paper elements.
Sorry I don't have the part number for the NAPA small filter. Used to but can't find it.
Plan B: I understand there is a longer Ford type element. Ford elements in the late 90's, etc had a hard rubber ball on the pointy end. The element is cone shaped.
If Gene is looking in take it from here as old Gene has a 65 FI car and works for a major airline.
Gene told me about this replacement element thing about 20 years ago.
John

[Duke W.]

Re: Racing an FI car.

...not to go through the whole K&N argument again, BUT:

#1 They do not filter as well as a quality OE replacement cellulose filters, (The do not meet the SAE standard used for particulate filtering that all the OEMs use.)

#2 They offer no less flow restriction than a same size cellulose filter based on testing by none other than HOT ROD MAGAZINE!!!

#3 If you think cleaning a used air filter in solvent is okay, why not do the same with oil filters?

See archives for all the arguments and data. The NAPA Gold filters are high quality cellulose filters that meet current OEM standards.

Duke

[John D.]

Re: Racing an FI car.

...not to go through the whole K&N argument again, BUT:

#1 They do not filter as well as a quality OE replacement cellulose filters, (The do not meet the SAE standard used for particulate filtering that all the OEMs use.)

#2 They offer no less flow restriction than a same size cellulose filter based on testing by none other than HOT ROD MAGAZINE!!!

#3 If you think cleaning a used air filter in solvent is okay, why not do the same with oil filters?

See archives for all the arguments and data. The NAPA Gold filters are high quality cellulose filters that meet current OEM standards.

Duke

DITTO.
Thanks Duke. I knew the above but was afraid to say it.
The NAPA Gold filters are Wix filters I believe.
Wix is the biggest manufacturer of filters in the world and they are quite affordable.

[Duke W.]

Re: Racing an FI car.

Well, you know I've never had any qualms about sh...ting on someone's sacred cow, especially if said cow is a illusion or myth based on marketing and advertising, and I think most of the guys here on the TDB "understand" the K&N filter hype.

Duke

[Clem Z.]

Re: Racing an FI car.

chevy tell their dealers when a duramax comes in for waranty work to look for a "polished" turbo impeller because that is a sign of the use of a K&N filter because the fine stuff that get thru the K&N did the polishing !