fuel injection distributor part number

[John D.]

I have been looking for a part number of the
58 to 65 FI distributor oil line. The line that goes from the back side of the FI distributor to the fittings on the top of the engine block. The # is not in the parts books, not in the AIMS. As some of you know that part was supplied on the engine by Flint and sent to St. Louis as part of the engine assembly. I imagine the part number may appear on the engine build sheet. Any of you that were "Down on the farm" in the early 90's might remember an employee of Flint Engine did a seminar at Dr. Mike's about engine stamping. He also brought alone some borrowed engine prints for us to look at. Anyone know this fellows name. Or does anyone on the DB have one of this prints to look up this number. Thanks very much, John DeGregory

[Tom D.]

FI tube in question - What supplier?

John: I assume you would have mentioned the supplier or GM "design responsible division" of GM if you knew that information. I'm wondering if it was RPD (Rochester Products Division), Delco Remy or the part of GM that is now called GM Powertrain.

Both RPD (what's left of it) and DR (what's left of it) are now part of what Delphi calls "Powertrain Business Unit". This is a new consolidation, and should not be confused with GM powertrain.

Tom Dingman
4889

[John D.]

Re: FI tube in question - What supplier?

Tom, As I said in an email it does not appear that this part was supplied by Delco Remy from 58 to 65. It was supplied by GM. But it appears to have been an inhouse part number. One that was not released to Chevy parts division for over the counter. RP didn't supply it for sure. The part number may start out with 374 or 375. In '57 though the distributor oil line came with the distributor from Delco Remy but I understand that Flint or GM wanted to supply it and include the part with the engine assembly. The part doesn't show up in the AIMS, or any of the Chev parts books from 58 to 65. Don't know if it appears in a 57 parts book. But I am not concerned about the 57 oil lines as that part is under control. It's the 58 to 65 oil line that I would like the info for. Concerned about configuration and the finish of the line. Some say the line is copper plated steel which is just like the oil gauge tube in my 63, etc. Some say the line was just like plain old brake line with a terne finish or a tin finish. You hardly see two lines alike when you look at a row of fuel cars. So many shapes.
Michael Hanson wrote and told me that he has not been able to come up with the part number and has searched for years. Robert Jorjorian also said he didn't have the part number. Maybe Joe Lucia has it??? Thanks, John D.

[Mike M.]

Re: FI tube in question - What supplier?

john: can't help with part # but all i've ever had or seen have been non-copper coated steel. haven't seen any tin-plated critters either.have seen a few. you been invited to the steel city scca dinner on march 19th yet? they want yer sorry ass to attend. some ole pfart gonna talk about NCRS judging. regards, mike

[Joe L.]

Re: FI tube in question - What supplier?

John------

Actually, I do have it around here somewhere. I came by it many years ago and, for the life of me, I can't recall where. Unfortunately, I also can't recall where I put it. I looked in the "usual places I put these sort of things" but it was not to be found there. Someday, it will turn up when I'm looking for something else (of course, I won't be able to find what I'm looking for at that time).

Anyway, as I recall it was a Chevrolet part number (i.e. a 7 digit number beginning with "37" or "38"). It was a PRODUCTION-only part number which was not available in SERVICE. It falls into the same category as brake and fuel lines which are very rarely serviced by GM. Instead, GM instructs that if one needs one, then one should make it up from bulk material and fittings which are available in SERVICE.

[John D.]

Re: FI tube in question - What supplier?

Dr. Mike, Actually an old time plater told me long ago that brake lines and tubing were terne coated. Not many people today know that term. Long ago when I first started doing show restorations for the local folks I used some free tin plating from a local factory. Looked pretty nice and lasted a long time but wasn't correct. In using that comparison in my mind I fail to see how some say the oil line was tin plated. I have a couple of copper plated steel originals though. Used to think they were bubba made and then found out that "some" midyear fuel cars used them. That's one of the primary reasons I want to see the print. Want to see if just bundy tubing was specified or were there other exceptable lines used. As you know your are one of the "pushers" of the copper plated steel oil lines. My little white 63 car lost a point though at Marlborough because the judge didn't like the lines. Said it should be plain old copper just like the manual says. I didn't argue though(maybe little bit).
I wasn't invited to the SCCA event. Sounds like a good one. John

[John D.]

Terne plating vs tin plating

Dr. Mike etal, If you look up Terne-plate in Webster it clears up the confusion on the brake lines and tubing coating.
First of all the tubing was formed from a sheet of steel and rolled. To keep the seam from rusting the tube was coated.
"terne-plate. French word meaning tarnish and plate. Sheet iron or steel coated with an allow of tin and lead. It has a dull finish and is considered inferior to standard tin plate." So then you could actually say that the line was somewhat tin plated if you did not know the proper term which is terne. MH and RJ. If you are looking in you learned something for a change. Jr.

[John D.]

Re: FI tube in question - What supplier?

Hi Joe, Well you said the right answer. Yes it was a PRODUCTION-only part number. Not available in service. Correct for sure. If service needed to make a repair they cobbled a line up and hence why so many home made looking oil lines on the old fuel cars.
I do hope that some day you can find the PRODUCTION part number. If so I think that my friends might be able to come up with the print. If you have the number I bet you are the only one. Thanks, John

[Mike M.]

Re: FI tube in question - What supplier?

you are to be invited. talked to rob harris of steel towns last week. they are interested in you experiences pit-crewing for Dr.Blatchly and your acquaintance with don yenko. as far as the term"tern coating " is concerned, i'm familiar with the term. my father in law was a tin-banger(as were his grandfather and great-grandfather). when he and i replaced the standing seam tin roof on our 200+ year old farm house 30 years ago, i bought the materials to replace the old tin from a steel supplier in west va north of wheeling. the 50' rolls of roofing were "tern plated" . there was a thin coating of lead on the tin. supplier said they dip the steel in molten lead to achieve the "tern" . mike

[John D.]

Re: FI tube in question - What supplier?

Dr. Mike, Yea your farmers know your tin roofs for sure. Thanks for the invite. If I recover from being cut I will attend. Thanks, John

[Joe L.]

Re: fuel injection distributor part number

John-----

My vague recollection is that I once has TWO different numbers for this FI distributor oil line. I found one of the numbers (IF I ever had two), but it may be the same one as you have. The part number is GM #3742088. This part was once available in SERVICE, but cataloged only for the 1957 Corvette application. It was discontinued from SERVICE without supercession on May 1, 1960.

However, just because it was only cataloged for 1957 applications and discontinued from SERVICE in 1960 does not mean that it was not used in PRODUCTION after 1957. My knowledge of FI and FI-related components is somewhat limited since they've never really been of a lot of interest to me. However, I don't understand why there would have been any need to change this part, at LEAST through 1961 if not through the end of FI usage. There may have been some minor changes in specs over the years (e.g. a change to copper-plated steel tube at some point), but I don't see why that would have resulted in a new part number. More likely, if such a change were made it would, at most, result in a change to the original blueprint for the part with no change in part number. Sometimes, a change like the tubing finish change might not even be made on the original specs (i.e the original specs might have provided for alternate finishes, a reference to a GM spec which may have provided alternate means of achieving whatever end was desired, or no spec, at all, with respect to finish; in the latter case, the supplier could use whatever tubing they had on hand that met the MATERIAL spec, regardless of finish).

[John D.]

Re: fuel injection distributor part number

Hi Joe, There were two 57 fuel injection oil lines and both prints have serviced over the years. But the 57 FI distributor and oil line is quite a bit different than the typical 58 to 65 FI.
I was aware of the 3742088 oil line. Therefore I am assuming that the 58-65 distr. oil line part number may start with 374 or 375----. Thanks for looking though. Jorjorian and Hanson also agree with you that this line is a production part number only. Hopefully someone will come up with it. Thanks, John