Al T

I've got a complete '58 fuel injection unit (7014900R) w/distributor and air cleaner (which will be for sale as I won't be using it) that will be going on the 283 in my '32 5 window. I've got a few questions that hopefully the wealth of knowledge here can answer.











1) The engine is a 1964 283 bored .030 over with a 327/350hp L79 cam and cast aluminum pistons. Should I be replacing the cam with in 097 cam or would the L79 cam work in this application? The engine currently has an Edelbrock tri-power intake with Rochester 2G's. I'll likely have to run this set-up until I can get the fuel injection unit gone through. The firewall has been massaged for the tach cable (for once I thought in advance). Did Stewart Warner (in the early 60's) make a mechanical drive tach?



2) What can I expect (ballpark) for it to cost for the rebuild. I do have a rebuild kit for the unit.



3) Any recommendations on who to send it to for the rebuild?

I'm a duck out of water regarding Fuel Injection so any advice would be appreciated. The car is being built period correct for the early 60's (with the exception of the 4 link and rear coil overs). I'm pretty excited about driving a fuel injected small block powered Deuce coupe.

Thanks in advance.

Allan

jim lockwood

Check your idle vacuum with that L79 cam. That 4900R FI unit works well with an engine which makes a minimum of 14 in Hg. If you see at least that much idle vacuum, the L79 cam will work fine.
No way to know until a rebuilder opens up the unit. There are precision mechanical devices inside the fuel bowl which wear out and likely need to be replaced. Whether or not your rebuild kit is even usable (it's pretty old) depends on how soft the two diaphragms still are. I'd suggest letting the rebuilder you select use a current-production rebuild kit.

A competent rebuilder can take your unit apart and give you an accurate estimate of rebuild and calibration costs.
There are three competent and honest rebuilders who frequent this forum:

Jerry Bramlett, Tom Parsons, and (immodestly) myself. You'd be happy with the work any of us do.

There are, however, several other rebuilders around the country who would do a good job for you. There may be one or two rebuilders who you should avoid. PM me and I'll share my opinions of them.

You should be.

A Rochester FI unit in good condition and properly calibrated is a marvelous gadget..... a stunning performer and great eye-candy.

Jim

wmf62

Bill

desertpilgrim

The world waits for the ID of the "093" cam.

Al T

"The world waits for the ID of the "093" cam."

Oops. Typo........ 097 cam. Thanks for the catch. Corrected.

Allan

Al T

Would the vacuum produced by the L79 cam be published or would it have to be checked while running this particular engine?

Thanks for your information. I appreciate it.

Allan

MikeM

14" on a 327 is no problem. I don't know what happens in a 283 but I suspect you'd be fine with that combo.

jim lockwood

Nothing beats making a measurement of idle vacuum on the target engine.

I have no experience with an L79 cam in a 283. It's probably OK and a quick check of idle vacuum will confirm that.

Jim

63Corvette

I agree with everything Jim Lockwood (and also MikeM) said above. You can't go wrong with one of the referenced FI rebuilders.
I would add that I have a FI 63 Z06 RACE car. That means a very radical cam that idles lumpily about 800 to 1200rpm. It RUNS fine, and the FI makes a radical cam "more" drivable (relative to a carb). Because my cam does not allow slow engine speed use (it surges and jumps, so you have to disengage the clutch) it (the CAM) would NOT be usable or suitable for street usage, however, even with this camshaft, the Fuel Injection works FINE!!! It is the cam which is not suitable, not the FI.
Unlike a carb, once the fuel injection is dialed in and tuned (A/F mixture) it will stay that way and run fine for YEARS! In 40 years I have had 3 FI drive cables break, and had my unit rebuilt twice. Most who use them say that an engine problem is "usually" something else (like igniion) NOT FI.

63split63

You may want to try Bob Williams , Sidney Ohio . 937 492 1968 . He did one for us after a guy in West Virginia made it look real good and run bad .
Bill

DZAUTO

Allen,
Makes good sense to me, one of my FI cars is a 23 T-bucket with a 65 FI unit. It scares the heck out of me and I love it!