Advice on buying a fuelie

[Michael J.]

Re: Advice on buying a fuelie

Two years? Sounds like either a pricing problem or non-originality issue or both. I'd be very, very carefull. John mentions a couple of identifiers for mid year Fuelies, and there are some more in the archives.

Paul

You are right, that is why I need to see it in person, unlike the two others I have bought there. But they do mention people like Bill Mock, Jack Murray, and Bill Gessner validating the car. I don't know any of these people, but I guess they know what they are doing, so maybe the condition for price is not very good, we will see.

[William C.]

Re: Advice on buying a fuelie

Where is the dealer located in Ohio? I currently have a '62 and a '65 and have owned several "driver" fuel cars since 1967 when I bought a '58 and the owner handed me the FI scripts he had taken off the car when it was painted. Came with a 327/365. A long story about how it got back to Rochester FI status...

[Stuart F.]

Re: Advice on buying a fuelie

It is not uncommon for some bigger used Corvette dealers to hold their better value cars for a long time until they get what they figure they should for them. I guess they can afford to do so, otherwise they would have to deal. We have one in Orlando that specializes in the more unique and rare models, and won't budge an inch on price for them. He has had a number of cars in his stock that I can remember seeing on my first visit to his show room many years ago. Guess there is a fine line between "collector cars" and "every one has its' price". This dealer makes his bread and butter money off C-5's and C-6's - rapid turnover.

Stu Fox

[Joe M.]

Re: Advice on buying a fuelie

Nothing wrong with a "bogus' as long as you know it didin't originally comes that way from the factory.

They look like a fuelie, drive like a fuelie and appear as a fuelie to everyone but the rare fuelie afficinado.

If you knew as much about your fuelie as your computer you'd be a well informed fuelie owner.

[Michael J.]

Re: Advice on buying a fuelie

Where is the dealer located in Ohio? I currently have a '62 and a '65 and have owned several "driver" fuel cars since 1967 when I bought a '58 and the owner handed me the FI scripts he had taken off the car when it was painted. Came with a 327/365. A long story about how it got back to Rochester FI status...

A big dealer in Napoleon, you all probably know . I have a good chapter friend who has a '57 where he got the same scripts handed to him from the previous owner, along with the original, complete engine, which was taken out in 1970 after numerous problems and replaced by a '66 327 L79 . He now has the fully restored and overhauled original still sitting in his garage, but has not put it back in because he loves the way the current one runs and is afraid of the original, go figure...

[Duke W.]

Re: Advice on buying a fuelie

The 1963 Corvette Shop Manual has an excellent section on the FI system that explains, in detail, how it works in addition to detailed service procedures. Normal operation (engine warmed up) is pretty straightforward, but some of the various cold start enrichment systems used over the years can be finnicky. Just remember that the "wobble pump" was replaced by the prior gear pump either in production or early service. The wobble pump proved to be unreliable.

There are also books on the Rochester FI system.

Like on any fuel system, old elastomers can cause problems, and many FI systems have been subjected to bubba repairs.

There are some problematic components like the cranking signal valve used on some models, and one should carry a spare.

The 380 units used in '64-'65, which didn't have a CSV are probably the best in terms of reliability once they are set up correctly and don't have aged elastomers or a sticky choke system.

Duke