"best" fuel unit?

[Karl #35089]

(relatively) young punk trying to learn FI here... (Numbers and originality to any particular car aside for the moment.) What are the best features or worst problems with any of the various designs '57-'65? What series unit could be called "best" (if any)? I truly appreciate any insight you can share.

Thanks,
-Karl

[Ed Jennings]

Re: "best" fuel unit?

Like most things that evolve, the newest units are probably the best. I think most of the problems were sorted out by the time the 320 (60-61) unit came along. The 360 (62) had a few improvements and the flow increased to handle the 327. The 375 unit (63) while cosmetically different is very similar to the 62 unit. One major difference is the distributer. It changed to a single point vacuum advance model. The 380, (64-65) did away with the cranking signal valve, which has been a source of trouble to owners of older models. The distributer still had vacuum advance, but was available as a TI model.

My car has a 360 unit which performs flawlessly, but I sort of wish it had vacuum advance.

[Mike M.]

Re: "best" fuel unit?

karl: agree with Ed. 4360,the first rochester unit was a P.O.S. compared to the 380's of 64 and 65, which, compared to modern electronic FI units belong in the toilets. Dennis Clark and I will be doing the FI seminar in Nashville in 2 weeks if you're free that weekend. we will be comparing the first FI units to the last one in 65. hope you can attend. mike

[john38706]

Re: "best" fuel unit?

1962-360 units and 64-5-380 units work the best.

[Ed Jennings]

Re: "best" fuel unit?

The "375" unit is conspiciously absent from your list. I am curious as to why. I thought that other than the choke and the fancy plennum they were pretty much the same as the 360 unit. Not arguing the point- just curious.

[William C.]

Re: "best" fuel unit?

With the 30-30 cam, the cranking signal system is marginal at best as the idle vacuum is perilously close to the open point of the cranking signal valve, and because of this idle quality is uncertain.

[Ed Jennings]

That makes sense. *NM*

[Karl #35089]

Thanks to all who responded. Great info. *NM*