Tweet
Message Deleted by Poster
-
-
Re: Is my 61 a "feulie"
Jack,
According to the Technical Information and Judging Guide your block should not preceed the build date by two weeks to almost four. There maybe a little leadway on that but this is just my opinion. Others with more knowledge than I may think different. By the way what is your vin number? Mine is #4719.
Best wishes,
Craig Willetts
#36551
1961 2x4 245HP -
Re: Is my 61 a "feulie"
Jack, You are asking two separate questions. One seems to regard engine numbers, the other is whether the car is an original fuel car. Now, assuming the engine is the original, which is possible but unlikely, the suffix on the stamp pad should read "CR" or "CS", the former being the 275 hp FI and the latter the 315hp version. The presence or absence of these suffixes don't mean a whole lot as to whether the car was an original fuelie. The cast date vs the car build date is within the window of acceptability, but most were much closer.
When you say that the car is a fuelie, I assume it has a FI unit installed. Here are some things to verify as far as originality:
1. The windshield washer needs to be on the right near the battery. No sign of it having been previously installed on the left.
2. The holes in the radiator support for the plate that would block off the air hose hole in a non-FI car should show no signs of threads.
3. The horn relay should be located underneath the FI air hose and no holes under the hose where it was previously mounted.
4. Air cleaner nut plate should appear factory mounted, ie no pop rivet. If there is no factory style AC installed, look for the factory mounting holes and hardware as well as the mounting hardware for the fresh air hose to the air cleaner.
FI emblems, tach RPM, etc. is all stuff that can be easily changed or added and as such doesn't mean much.Comment
-
Re: Is my 61 a "feulie"
Jack,
My 61 is VIN #4587. Although not yet NCRS judged I believe it an original motor and drivetrain 315 HP car. According to the Wisconson NCRS Birthday calculator the car was built on January 11, 1961. It is a 519 block, cast date is L80(dec. 8, 1960), assembly date of 1213CS(Dec. 13, 1960, CS=315 HP, 4 speed transmission).
As Ed mentioned the windshield washer set up, the air cleaner nut plate, and the lack of upset in the pilot holes on the radiator shroud are important signs. My horn relay is mounted on the horizontal(as opposed to the apparently more common vertical) of the inner fender but it is clear of the fresh air hose. Also you will have a hole in the firewall to allow the tach cable to connect to the distributor. There is also a second nut plate for the air cleaner intake hose bracket near the horn relay.
Also of interest would be the FI unit and serial nimber. You should heve a 320 unit(assuming it is a 315 HP car). Seeing as 320 units were used in 60 and 61 and the serial nimbers started at 1000 in 1960, you should have a unit in the 1600 to 2200 range(just a guess).Comment
-
(Message Deleted by Poster)
Message Deleted by PosterComment
-
Re: Is my 61 a "feulie"
Remember that if a 275 hp engine, all comments regarding fresh air hose and blockoff are invalid. What is the Tach redline? Lots of little clues if you look at the AIM and try to Id the factory installation of those FI unique components as has been mentioned.Bill Clupper #618Comment
-
Re: Is my 61 a "feulie"
From what you are describing I believe that your car is a real FI car. It would not be a waste of time to restore it, even if it had no engine at all. NCRS judging allows a 6 month window prior to the car's build date for engine casting date. So long as the engine is properly stamped (or not stamped at all for that matter) and the build date is within the window you will receive all or partial credit. If the stamp pad is blank, the deduction is pretty minor in the great scheme of things.Comment
-
Re: Is my 61 a "feulie"
Bill:
Thanks for your response. In answer to your question on the Tach redline. It is 6500.I think that the 315 HP "feulie" came with that tach. I had a chance to look up a few things before I bought the car but only had a day to make up my mind an in that I knew nothing about Vettes I kind of took a calculated chance that it was correct. I appreciate more than I can say All the help I get through NCRS.Comment
-
Re: Is my 61 a "feulie"
One of the most difficult items to "recreate" on a 275 or 315 hp engine are the cylinder heads. The 461 castings in the '61 model year were ONLY used on the FI Corvettes. Check the date codes and casting numbers on the heads. If they are consistant with the engine build date, that is a big plus for it being an original engine.Bill Clupper #618Comment
-
Re: Is my 61 a "feulie"
Jack,
The birthday calculator has your VIN #5717 being built on Feb. 20, 1961. That makes you engine build of Oct. 19, 1960 approximately 4 months prior. That is longer than normal but well within the 6 months the NCRS allows. As a plane of reference my 12/13/60 built motor has a 320 FI unit, serial number 2686. Your lower number 320 FI unit is consistent with the earlier 10/19/60 engine build. Sounds like you have a reasonable situation. Good luck with the restoration.Comment
-
Re: Is my 61 a "feulie"
as clup mentioned , the 461X heads(double camel humps but tops of humps squared off) are difficult to come by if one is counterfieting a 61 fuelie; however, the harmonic balancer is much more difficult to acquire( it "steps to the rear instead of having a step to the front of the balancer)Comment
-
Re: Is my 61 a "feulie"
Hello & Thanks Agin:
I had already checked out the heads with my handy Corvette Black Book and found the heads to be the correct 461X heads. The Harmonic Balancer step down is a new one though. In looking at it where does it occur? How much of a step down is it, and where does it appear on the balancer? My production manual is not to clear on that part.
Jack AlexanderComment
-
(Message Deleted by Poster)
Message Deleted by PosterComment
-
Re: Is my 61 a "feulie"
Jack,
Try the Wisconson Chapter of NCRS, www.ncrs-wi.org. I have not heard of Dale,s condition recently.Comment
-
Re: Is my 61 a "feulie"
jack not sure i can verbally describe the harmonic balancer unique to the solid lifter 283"s in 61(and I believe l960 as well) but here goes: if you are sanding at the drivers side front fender & peering down at the harmonic balancer in a sloid lifter engine, you willsee a balancer thats 6" in diameter. Look at the rear surface of the balancer, that surface that faces the timing chain cover. then look towards the center line of the crankshaft. about 3/4 to 1 " from the periphery of the balancer you will see the balancer step about 3/8 to 1/2 " towards the rear of the car, then it will cut back paralell to the timing chain cover and proceed to the outside diameter of the crankshaft. Can't draw worth a darn in 3 dimenswions so the verbal description will have to do. mikeComment
Comment