FI serial numbers vs. build sequence for 380 units

[Michael J.]

Re: FI serial numbers vs. build sequence for 380 units

I can see that logic, and in looking at the numbers for '64, 1325 FI cars built, and if about 200 of them were 375 and 375R units, then it would be odd to see 380 units in the 2400+ range installed in '64 (or even 2000+ units installed in mid year), unless they had a big inventory built up and were drawing from the top and leaving the bottom older units on the pallets.

[Wayne M.]

Re: FI serial numbers vs. build sequence for 380 units

In the 1965 MY, I wonder what (if any) effect the introduction of the L78 had on Rochester FI unit production rates or St. Louis 380 unit inventories (and how many units were slated for service ? ... the balance of inventory at end-of-production, or an extended RP run to build service inventory to GM standards ?).

Chevrolet Service News, March 1965: "mid-year change ... addition of 396.... Limited availability of of the 365 hp L76 is expected for the balance of the model year". AFAIK, this did not happen, although it would be interested to see a graph.

So, I wonder if the new 396 bled orders for the L76 and L84 equally ?

[Bill W.]

Re: FI serial numbers vs. build sequence for 380 units

Wayne,
In VOL. 1, NO. 3 of the "Restorer" John Amgwert wrote an article about FI production figures using data compiled by John Blanchette (GM engineer who worked for Rochester Products).
There were 3022 7017375 fuel units produced for 1963, 91 were for service. The data does not say weather the 91 service units are included in the total number produced.
There were 2114 '380 units produced for 1964 and '65, 67 units were produced for service. Weather this data helps or further confuses the issue you guys will have to sort out. Bill

[John D.]

Re: FI serial numbers vs. build sequence for 380 units

I worked on this unit at the Bend regional in 1982. Original owner '64 Coupe, Vin #3132, 7017380 S/N 1882.
Hope this helps your Vin/S/N sequence project.

As you can see friends this is not an exact science is it. I mean an early '64 car built in November '63 with the 882th unit on it!!!!!! The unit just was born to the world and the car already has the 882th unit on it.
By the way, November of '63 both the 7375R and the 7380 units were being installed hap hazardly so it seems.
One way to tell if your early '64 should have had an '7380 unit instead of the '7375R is to look at the engine wiring harness to see if the connectors are exposed for the automatic trans neutral safety swich hook up. The 7380 starting solenoid operates on a Cherry Electric micro switch that plugs into the neutral safety switch wiring.

One thing RP told me in the old days is that if the dealer had a unit that had issues RP fixed it, made it look pretty and sent it back to St. Louis mixed in with the others. That info really puts a wrench into our thinking but it's fact and came to me from several sources in the old days.
One time Frank Sciabica said at an NCRS FI seminar at the Western New York regional in early 90's. Said during the fuel injection era it was a nut house at the assembly plant and engineering office. Things weren't going as planned.
The ladies that assembled the units were inconsistent. Franks reported that some of the units worked fine and others were a total loss. The ones that didn't work were worked on at the engineering center and then used up.
So you may well see an early numbered 7380 unit on a later car that is reportedly unmolested.
As Michael said the FI unit numbers for the '65's were all over the board.
That's what's so nice about owning a '65 with the serial number stamped on the plenum. There you have real documentation providing the plenum is real.
If only RP had cut loose with all the info they had on this. I thought that I was close to getting it but the the attorneys stepped in and I didn't get squat except for some blue prints that I am not supposed to have. True story. JD

[Michael T.]

Re: FI serial numbers vs. build sequence for 380 units

My 1965 car serial number is 02113, built November 13th 1964. My fuel injection serial number is 2161. It has my cars vin# stamped into the passenger side rear of the plenum. I did see that a 1965 Black coupe that Jim Gessner owned, serial number 02111 had a fuel injection serial number of 2159. Only one car between us and one fuel injection unit. Do NCRS judges deduct points if they feel the serial number on the unit is to low or to high to coincide with the cars build date? Or, with all this new information and inconsistencies, they pass that by on the mechanical check? I ask because in 2004 a friends car got deducted 5 points because they felt the dog house was changed due to the serial number? He still received a Top Flight award.

[Patrick C.]

Re: FI serial numbers vs. build sequence for 380 units

My 1964 FI is vin 109769 with fi s/n 1789. 380 unit. Car built late January 1964. Its the real deal confirmed by the original owner.

pat