Fuelies 360hp and 375 HP performance

[Bernard B.]

Is a fuelie much more powerful than a carburator 350hp or 365 hp.

Can you feel the difference in power driving a fuelie ?

Are fuelies reliable?

Do they require constant adjusments and timing?

Finally, which C2 is the fastest on the street?

Thanks

Bernard

[Jerry B.]

Re: Fuelies 360hp and 375 HP performance

I Have A 69 Corvette L46. Also I Installed A Hp 1961 320 Unit In 1977. I Have Always Used A Double Fuel Filter System And The Best Air Cleaner I Can Find. It Runs Perfect As The Day I Installed The Unit. As Far As Performence, I Don't Think A Carb System Is As Responsive As A Well Maintained Fi. But That Is My Opinion!

[Paul Y.]

Re: Fuelies 360hp and 375 HP performance

I agree. The fuely has better torque and keeps pulling stronger on upper rpms plus excellant gas mileage. No comparison to a carburator unless the fuely is not calibrated properly.

[Jim L.]

Re: Fuelies 360hp and 375 HP performance

Are fuelies reliable?

Do they require constant adjusments and timing?

When correctly built and adjusted, and when left alone (i.e. the owner resists the temptation to tinker with the FI unit), Rochester FI is darned reliable.

You can expect to go many years between rebuilds. It's been 8 years and thousands of miles since I rebuilt the FI unit on my '60. My '57 went almost 25 years between rebuilds.

The worst thing I can think of to say about FI units is that they have some quirks to which you must adapt. Nothing major, but neither are the quirks things you can ignore.

Jim

[Dan H.]

Re: Fuelies 360hp and 375 HP performance

The even fuel/air distribution of the injection is far superior to the carb which is a compromise when it comes to fuel/air distribution. Many years ago I put a 63 injector on my 340 63 Coupe, night and day difference! Was smoother all the way up through the RPM range. Better gas mileage also. For all around driveability, the FI is sooo nice.
Dan

[Ridge K.]

Re: Fuelies 360hp and 375 HP performance

Finally, which C2 is the fastest on the street?

not much of a "street car", and as we know very rare with a production of 20 units,......but it would be difficult to outrun a 1967 L88 with any other C2 whether they be carbureted or fuel injected.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Fuelies 360hp and 375 HP performance

Having had a number of both, including different systems on the same engine, I guess I can offer my 2 cents worth. As for torque, the carb systems rate best off the line and on low speed dumps, but tend to run out of wind at the upper end. To feel exactly what I mean, gradually accelerate your fuelie up through the RPM range. It will feel adequate up to the 3500 RPM cam turn on point, i.e. the RPM point where the Duntov or 30-30 cams start to multiply horsepower. You will then feel a great boost of torque and it will take off like a rabbit (push you back in the seat).

I had several drag racing setups back in the day on my 292 ci 57 Chevy post. When matched up with another 57 with FI, I could usually always get them off the line and pull them at least through the 1/8th mile which was enough to hold off their high end surge through the quarter. That was with setup dual WCFB's from a typical Vette 270hp. With a set of Caddy WCFB's, I picked up 4 to 6 mph on the top end which was more than any stock fuelie could match.

With my original 63 L-76, I can't count the number of fuelies I have left behind, but that was mostly a case of gearing. The hot dogs with their fuelies always like to run 4.56's or 4.11's and try to run me from 30 mph on up. I have a 3.36 with close ratio and always just wind away from them, specially from 100 on up.

Bottom line, there are good points and bad points about each. I prefer carburetors because I know them better and can make them work well with very little effort or investment. My first fuelie engine was a 58 and was fun. It was specially cool as I had it in a 50 Chevy coupe. I used to whistle my way through town and terrify the commandoes, but it always would load up when hot in the summer, and wouldn't start below 0* in the winter. My later units were better.

Stu Fox