Driving a 63 FI Coupe
A few years ago as I was assembling my 63, after painting, a warning was given regarding ethanol and fuel injection O rings that were not vitron. After some contemplation I decided to do my own testing as I drive my car more than anyone else I know of. I have now put over 10,000 miles on the car without a fire and/or major problem. I try to run non-ethanol but it is difficult on any road trip so I would say that when I am in Denver I run non-ethanol and on road trips it is what I can get. I notice a difference in the percolation and starting of ethanol and I also have had a little bit of problem with a sticky float and maybe needle and seat. I of course am running the factory needle and seat as it is steel and designed for better flow. When I find that I am having problems, I take off the fuel meter cover and polish the float and needle seat with 4 ought steel wool. This always releases the problem and I can continue on my way. I carry a little kit in the back and can do this job in about twenty minutes so it is not too disruptive or inconvenient. The only problem is that I never know when it will happen so I just have to be prepared. In the 10k miles that I have accumulated since assembly, I have had to do this about six or seven times. I feel this is a small price to pay for being able to drive my FI and get the 20+ MPG that I enjoy. Like Jack says: drive them!
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It's a good life!
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Re: Driving a 63 FI Coupe
Nice looking car Paul! -
Re: Driving a 63 FI Coupe
Paul;
Is yours a radio delete car? (I noticed there were no ignition shields).
I am going to venture out this Saturday morning to a town just south of us where there is a station selling 90 octane non-ethanol gas. I recently fixed my fuel filler to eliminate one source of gas smell in my garage, and am now anxious to try a tank w/o ethanol to see if it is improved (I have been told it will make a great difference). Mine is an L-76 carbureted version of the 63 SHP engine and there is only so much one can do to slow down the evaporation/percolation with a carburetor.
Like your black walls. My next set will be back to black.
Stu FoxComment
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Re: Driving a 63 FI Coupe
Thanks a lot Tim.It's a good life!
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Re: Driving a 63 FI Coupe
Stu, No, it is not a radio delete car, I just didn't put them back after I put new spark plugs in. I also never use the top shield as per John Degregory's instructions for spark free driving with a FI. (This may be heresy but I use one ounce of marine two stroke oil per 5 gallons of gasoline and seem to get much better fuel system cleaning and even noticeable better MPG.) I have been a black wall fan since the mid-sixties when these cars were new. Thanks for the kind words. PaulIt's a good life!
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Re: Driving a 63 FI Coupe
Paul,
What a beauty, I would drive it also.
I have a 63 that was stock with a 300HP and wished it were a fuelie like yours.
I think the 63 fuelie is the best of the C-2's.
I also have the 67 BB 427/435 that will be shot at as fake (even though I got it when it was 4 years old) mostly because of the desire of some to have a BB under their hood but that 327 fuelie will show the BB a thing or 2 and still pump out good milage.
DOMComment
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Re: Driving a 63 FI Coupe
Thanks Dom and it was nice talking to you yesterday. I also am some what biased regarding small blocks and their performance with gas mileage. I found my car on a spud farm south of Twin Falls, Idaho and thought it was a 64 because the split had been cut out. It was just the shell of an old race car with roll bar, flares, whale tail, glassed in head lights, etc. I doubt that I would start on another car that bad today. It has been an old friend and I have put over 110k miles on it, most of which it had no paint on it. You get a lot of attention from the law like that.It's a good life!
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Re: Driving a 63 FI Coupe
Paul,
You brought it back from custom with some mighty fine body work yhat you can be proud of.
DOMComment
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Re: Driving a 63 FI Coupe
Paul;
What rear axle ratio are you running? I recall back in the day when I made some long trips with mine, I used to easily pull better than 20+ mpg, but the way I drive it today I don't bother to check (too many pedal to the metal short runs). I have the 3.36 and my tire size (205x70Rx15) runs my speedo about 8 to 10 mph too slow for good calculations. My son with his 08 PC won't try to cruise with me on the highway as he's afraid he'll get a ticket, Ha!
Stu FoxComment
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Re: Driving a 63 FI Coupe
Paul,
That 63 is looking better every time I see it and it has been what now 30 years???
Jimmy BlakelyComment
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Re: Driving a 63 FI Coupe
great looking car! i love these fuel injected cars. i have always ran at least 93 with ethanol. i did have some perculation issues with my 64 FI but then went to the local airport and been filling up with 100LL aviation fuel when i can. it has been running great ever since. plus my engine loves it. i have been getting 17mpg running 4:11 gears at 3500 to 3800 rpms on the highway. the rpms dont worry me too much as this is where my engine seems to be real happy there. i also drive my car as much as possible and have driven it on several trips at 3 or more hours at a time. i believe these cars were meant to be driven. they were driven when new, why not now? i love it when i can tell someone i drove to a show when they asked if i trailered it the 4 hour trip. so good job on helping keep these cars on the road!
take care,
mattComment
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Re: Driving a 63 FI Coupe
HI Paul, I really like your saddle 63 FI car. The needle and seat issues you are having is because of the ethanol as you well know.
Try a viton needle and seat. Although the orifice is smaller it shouldn't hurt anything unless you are driving pedal to the metal down a drag strip.
Make sure the viton needle and seat you get has been modified. Modified means the end of it has been cut off and chamfered. Typical viton needle and seats have an extension to them that does restrict fuel in an FI car.
Seems like you are having a build up on your steel N&S. Ethanol causes built up on parts big time.
Story: I am restoring a 61 FI right now. The bottom of the fuel bowl had a 1/4" of hard as a rock varnish in it. Yes the owner was using ethanol and let the car sit for about 1-1/2 years. That stuff gets like concrete when left sitting around.
Luckily I have some old time Permatex carb cleaner I bought in the early 90's. I left the bowl soak for a day in the cleaner and the varnish disappeared.
Try Marvel Mystery Oil. 4 ozs to 10 gallons of fuel. Not a cure all for ethanol but does have keep the needle and seat from sticking.
Don't over do the MMO though like I did or your car will smoke worse than a big rig. JDComment
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Re: Driving a 63 FI Coupe
Great thread. I am restoring a '63 FI convertible at the moment - but I am a long way off from completing it. Still in the teardown stage. But its awesome to see someone thoroughly enjoying their car.
Thanks for the inspiration.
MikeComment
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Re: Driving a 63 FI Coupe
Stu, I had a 3:70 when I got it and I put in a 3:36 which I enjoy more on road trips. I would go with a 3:08 maybe but with mountain driving and all it may be too much. I run a 225/75/15 michelin tire front and rear. It rubs a tiny bit on tight turns at parking lot speed. I like a lot of rubber without rubbing much.It's a good life!
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Re: Driving a 63 FI Coupe
Yep, I've owned it 33 years Jimmy. How is your 65 coming along?It's a good life!
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