FI for 63 pilot line vette

[Larry M.]

Does anyone know where I could buy a fuel injector for a 63 pilot line vette?
I believe the ID tag no. is 7375 and it has a snowflake emblem on top of the plenum. This FI unit is not exactly the same as a regular production 63 vette and it has a sandcast finish.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Ed Jennings]

Re: FI for 63 pilot line vette

I have no idea where to get one of these units, but I would start by contacting John DeGregory. I think his email is JohnDeGreg@aol.com.

[Ed Jennings]

You might also try

Jerry Bramlett. His contact info is in the member profiles.

[Jerry S.]

Re: FI for 63 pilot line vette

I can't imagine a pilot line care with FI, they were good enough to have an engine.

[Joseph T.]

Re: FI for 63 pilot line vette

Jerry

As a fan of 1963 Corvettes..you will appreciate this story.

Years ago..I interviewed John Evans the long time Chief Inspector of the St.Louis Corvette Plant.

He said the then president of Chevrolet Bunkie Knudsen came to St.Louis to review the 1963 pilot cars.

The pilot cars had door sills that were non painted!

Bunkie insisted that the grooves be painted. John said he also insisted that some of the chrome interior parts be painted..and that the paint would fall off before the cars ever left the line.

He also commented that the first shipment of door sills that arrived at the factory were unpainted. It would be interesting if any were used without being painted and ended up on production cars.

Joe

[Duke W.]

Re: FI for 63 pilot line vette

The general manager's whim is usually an order even if it actually reduces quality.

A similar situation occurred when I was at Pontiac and about to fly out to Van Nuys to oversee the '69 Firebird pilot line. The big change was a new front facia that consisted of Lexan headlight bezels that were considered part of the "bumper". The new bumper/grille/headlight assembly was assembled on a fixture, then bolted to the front end. In order to fill the gap and allow some "give" in this "bumper" a black rubber gasket, about a quarter-inch wide was installed between the bumper assembly and the front end sheet metal, which also blended the contour of the facial with the front end sheet metal.

DeLorean, in a product review, ordered the gasket painted body color. The engineers had already tried that and the paint didn't stick, but the boss had given the troops their marching orders.

Not long after the pilot build I left to go to grad school, and never was able to determine what eventually happened.

At a cruise last year I ran across a very nicely restored '69 Firebird, and it had a black gasket. I told the owner the story and asked him if he had ever seen one with a painted gasket. His reply was no, so I guess the troops finally convinced DeLorean that painting the gasket would do more long term harm than short term good, when the paint started peeling off.

Duke

[Joseph T.]

Re: FI for 63 pilot line vette

Duke

When I interviewed John Evans..he had been retired for over 10 years. When he told the story about Bunkie Knudsen..he asked that I turn off the camera.

It testifys to the power that management had.

[Michael H.]

1st 63 Pilot Line FI S100002

Jerry,

I agree, it would seem unlikely that many, or any, of the pilot line cars were fuel injected but actually that wasn't the case as there were quite a few F.I's in the pilot run of 25 cars. In fact, the first fuel injected 63 was serial #2 off the line. Since the new 63 pilot cars were built, in part, to teach the line workers how to assemble the new product. Every possible combination of options was to be used in the build of 25, if possible. I certainly would have expected the FI optioned cars to be run later in the series though as this option would have been a lot more difficult to build than a non FI car.

[Mike McKown]

Re: FI for 63 pilot line vette

You could try Ernie at Willcox@bellsouth.net. He has a sand cast dog house but I don't know if he will sell it. He once indicated he would but when I told someone else about it, he didn't want to sell. Can't hurt to try. Your choices are extremely limited.

[Michael H.]

Re: FI for 63 pilot line vette

Larry,

The early run 7017375 FI units are difficult to find but not impossible. The most difficult part would be the unique top cover with the Winters Foundry "snowflake" AND the holes for the crossed flag. Most of the early top covers with just the Winters snowflake were school units and units that were sent to engineering. Also, there's some disagreement on the sand cast/die cast plenum. I know all of the 1st run school units were sand cast but I don't know if all of the pilot car units were.

Do you have one of the 25 pilot line cars?

[Sydney G.]

Re: FI for 63 pilot line vette

Hi,
Michael in my 1963 survey, or list of production, which now totals close to 1,800 1963's, I have recorded 8 pilot line cars (1-25 in serial sequence) to date and 7 of them are said to have been FI.
With your car #S100002, that makes 8 out of 9!
It seems they were building them early if this info is correct.
Syd

[Michael H.]

Re: FI for 63 pilot line vette

Sid,

I don't own 00002. Wish I did. I do have a lot of info on it tho and also have a few factory photos of the engine with the FI installed. Interesting that it shows the 62 style balance tube. I'll try to post one of the pic's.

I've had a few of the school units over the years and still have one. It has a modified 62 style inj to cyl head adapter.

Several months ago, I saw 7017375 ser# 1001, (0001) the very first 63 unit, for sale on ebay. I saved all the pic's and if I can find them, I'll post or send. I don't think it had the original aluminum wobble pump but most everything looked correct/original.

[Larry M.]

Re: FI for 63 pilot line vette

Thanks for the responses so far about the pilot 63 vette and FI units. I would like to obtain more info about the pilot line vettes, so if you could send info or pics I would appreciate it. Send to LMa1939@aol.com Thanks

[Sydney G.]

Re: FI for 63 pilot line vette

Hi Michael,
I meant to say your information on car #02, not to imply that you owned it. Can you furnish me with more details about this car, was it a coupe or convert, colors etc. so that I can enter it onto my list.
Hope you can post some pics as I too realy enjoy and appreciate.
Syd

[Michael H.]

Re: FI for 63 pilot line vette

Larry,

I sent you a pic of the 00002 car FI unit. Tried to post but for some reason, I'm not able to do so tonight. I'll dig out more pic's soon.

I think Jerry Bramlett was doing some research on the pilot line cars so he would be another excellent source of info.