1963 FI Surging - Finally fixed

[Lawrence S.]

This has been an ongoing thing for the past five years it seems every since I rebuilt the FI unit. I have posted out here twice and received much feedback and sincerely appreciate all the comments....especially from the Fuelie Yodas. The symptoms were upon starting the engine the engine would surge to 3000 then go back down 1,000 and surge back and forth until it warmed up. Upon driving and letting off the gas the idle speed would slowly drop back to idle after a surge.

What I did....new point, vacuum can, coil, plugs, set timing multiple times...adjusted economy stop per information received....all to no luck, pulled the distributor and check it...adjusted the valves, etc...still no luck. I could always hear what sounded like a vacuum leak but checked all connections and could never find it.

Finally got a can of choke starter fluid this past weekend after researching online ways to check for vacuum leaks and gave it a quick squirt....the first spot was the front driver side plenum leg gasket and the engine roared to life. Vacuum leak it was.....removed the FI unit today and found the new leg gasket ( from five years ago) was blown out one side. I had an extra set...replaced them ...doubled checked all the fittings and turned the key. What a sound....no surging...idle was too high so reset it but the engine purred like it use to. When I rebuilt the unit all new gaskets went in and I started having issues from the start....bad part I guess but never thought that would be the issue.

Anyway....wanted to provide feedback and thank everyone again....so sweet to have “Red” up and running again.

Larry...
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[Kent S.]

Re: 1963 FI Surging - Finally fixed

Congrats - always satisfying when you finally pinpoint an annoying problem...especially after a five year chase.

[Richard G.]

Re: 1963 FI Surging - Finally fixed

Sweet music, an FI running like it should.

[John D.]

Re: 1963 FI Surging - Finally fixed

Larry. If it happens again the bottom of the plenum May be warped. Also the baseplate could have issues. But hopefully you are set.
Congratulations.

[Lawrence S.]

Re: 1963 FI Surging - Finally fixed

Larry. If it happens again the bottom of the plenum May be warped. Also the baseplate could have issues. But hopefully you are set. <br />
Congratulations.

Thanks John....your responses along with others helped out greatly. The car sounds and runs like it did 25 years ago when I purchased her. Thanks again...

[John D.]

Re: 1963 FI Surging - Finally fixed

You are quite welcome Larry.
Another tip friends. We really like to buy NOS parts for our cars. NOS parts for our fuel injections.
Problem that can arise is the quality of these parts is below par.
For example: NOS plenum leg gaskets. Not all the same thickness!!. This is especially true on the '60'-'62 FI plenum leg gaskets that are packaged two to a set. Why they didn't put four in the bag who knows. Another use your mic on those as you may see them different thicknesses.
Same thing with '63-'65. Even though they are packaged 4 to a set they may be various thicknesses. John

[Mike M.]

Re: 1963 FI Surging - Finally fixed

fracture of plenum legs when using leg gaskets of differing thicknesses a real possibility. mic those gaskets boys. mike