63 FI unit HELP

[Philip C.]

Hi guys, if anyone has/ knows of a 63 FI car around 14,000 vin with ITS orig FI unit, need to know what the FI unit number is. THANK YOU ALL for any help! Phil 8063

[William C.]

Re: 63 FI unit HELP

Noland's book has a survey at the back of the '63 section lists 11337 as 3060, 13903 as 3026, and 14065 as 3126 and 14254 as 3272. Should give you some range to work in.

[John D.]

Re: 63 FI unit HELP

Phil, Without looking and doing massive research I would say that The serial number tag would be around 3000 or so.
If a fellow had one that was in the high 2900 range to 3300 range he/she would be in the ball park.
I see Clupper said similiar info from Noland.
Meanwhile there are variations in the 63 plenums. As time went on with the 63 plenums RP added more re-inforcing ribs to them. So say a fellow has a 63 in the high teens low 2000's his plenum would not be the same as one in the 3000 range.
Guys call me looking for an original tag for a certain FI unit/plenum. I don't have a one as they are most difficult to remove without either damaging the tag or messing up the plenum. JD

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 FI unit HELP

Phil, Without looking and doing massive research I would say that The serial number tag would be around 3000 or so.
JD

Have you ever wondered how the number of FI units at the 15,000 VIN range could be roughly 2300 (3300 on tag) when there were only 2610 FI cars built in 63 and there were still over 6000 cars left to build?

That means the last 6000 cars only received around 300 units, or one out of every 20 cars. About 5%.

The rate prior to that VIN would have been much higher, about one every 6.5 cars, or roughly 15%.

I think these numbers would show that the math does not work when trying to calculate an FI unit to VIN range. It's definitely not entirely linear. Not to mention the wide range created by the absence of a "first in, first out" system at both Rochester, the Flint engine plant and the St Louis assembly plant.

[John D.]

Re: 63 FI unit HELP

Michael, Your post is much appreciated and one that a lot of us should copy and refer to in our many conversations on numbers of FI units.
It's far from being an exact science that one can plug into his calculator and come up with a repro tag and call it correct. Thanks again, JD

[Joel F.]

Re: 63 FI unit HELP

Michael, Your post is much appreciated and one that a lot of us should copy and refer to in our many conversations on numbers of FI units.
It's far from being an exact science that one can plug into his calculator and come up with a repro tag and call it correct. Thanks again, JD

I bet the restorer in the north west corner of Indiana could get pretty close. Phew! Tru story!!!

[John D.]

Re: 63 FI unit HELP

The problem with having a 63 fuel car judged any more (in my humble opinions) is this. When you go to an NCRS regional you see a huge line up of 63-64 FI cars. I mean it's almost unreal. Once in a while you will see a nice carb car and it's refreshing.

The lowest #'63 FI I have owned was #3. That was my baby but it's gone and went to a good home. I have had my hands on 1000's of FI's over the last 50 years but only one I fell in love with was 63 #3. Not 1003 but just a plain #3.

Trivia: NOS 63 FI's. Did you know that if you bought a new 63 FI unit from GM past 1963 most typically it had a 64-65 plenum. But it did have a real deal 7017375 ID tag with a really high number in the 4000 range.
Still a nice part to own though but if you buy one you need to swap out the plenum.
63's have always been my favorite FI unit although I do realize that the 7380 unit is a better one because it does not have a cranking signal valve. Where in the world are all the 63 FI's coming from. Whew!!! JD

[Philip C.]

Re: 63 FI unit HELP

Have you ever wondered how the number of FI units at the 15,000 VIN range could be roughly 2300 (3300 on tag) when there were only 2610 FI cars built in 63 and there were still over 6000 cars left to build?

That means the last 6000 cars only received around 300 units, or one out of every 20 cars. About 5%.

The rate prior to that VIN would have been much higher, about one every 6.5 cars, or roughly 15%.

I think these numbers would show that the math does not work when trying to calculate an FI unit to VIN range. It's definitely not entirely linear. Not to mention the wide range created by the absence of a "first in, first out" system at both Rochester, the Flint engine plant and the St Louis assembly plant.

Hi Mike, you and I are on the same page, my unit 2024 was not the orig one from the car, but if I change it to 3024 I get the 12 points. First in first out, how about R and R (repair and replace) units, I dont agree with the math either! Thank you everyone so far for the input. Thanks John D for the screws. Phil 8063

[John D.]

Re: 63 FI unit HELP

Hi Phil, You are most welcome. Take care, JD

Phil. Very important info for you. 7017375 with #3024 belongs to one of our members and is on his car. #3014 is out there also. Flip a coin for another number. Good luck, John

[Bill C.]

Re: 63 FI unit HELP

Hi J.D.
If you got a replacement 375 unit with a 64-65 plenum;
was that one of the 375R units???
Regards
Bill

[John D.]

Re: 63 FI unit HELP

Hi J.D.
If you got a replacement 375 unit with a 64-65 plenum;
was that one of the 375R units???
Regards
Bill

Hi Bill, One would think that you would be correct but it appears that is not always the case. In fact I have never seen a NOS 375 R unit (doesn't mean anything) but have seen a half dozen or more NOS 63 FI's and every one of them had/have a 7380 plenum.
One on ebay recently also had a 7380 fuel meter cover. Remember these were just service replacement units and Rochester Products was not concerned about matching castings. Frank Sciabica one told me that the FI project was a loser and the bean counters told everyone not to waste any parts/castings. Use up everything they could and that's exactly what they did.
Those school units are made up of everything on the shelf as they were just used at the GM Training centers.

Would be really neat to see a NOS 63 unit that was put together with all the correct pieces.
When looking at a 7017375 R unit or judging one don't rush the job when looking at the ID tag that's riveted to the plenum. If you don't see the R then take another look to see if it's elsewhere on the tag.
Although it's typical to see the R directly after the unit model number that is not always the case. The R could be anywhere on the tag. JD

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 FI unit HELP

Hi Bill, One would think that you would be correct but it appears that is not always the case. In fact I have never seen a NOS 375 R unit (doesn't mean anything) but have seen a half dozen or more NOS 63 FI's and every one of them had/have a 7380 plenum.
One on ebay recently also had a 7380 fuel meter cover. Remember these were just service replacement units and Rochester Products was not concerned about matching castings. Frank Sciabica one told me that the
JD

If a 63 7017375 FI unit were purchased from GM during the 63 model year, or likely for at least a year or so after the 63 model year, it would probably be built with correct 7017375 parts.

I think the 7017375 units that used several 7017380 components, such as those you mention, were built at Rochester a year or two after the 63 model year. That's would be the reason why several components from a 380 were used.

I've had two NOS 7017375 units over the years. One was dead on correct and the other had a 7017380 plenum and fuel meter cover.

In a 1966 printing of the GM parts book, the 7017375 FI unit is shown for 63 and 1st design 64. It also states that the unit is a 7017375-R.

By the way, a brand new 7017375 FI unit, list price in 1966, was... $425.00.