 feffin
"7th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 127
Loc: Victoria B.C. Canada
Reg: 11-30-04
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05-27-12 02:49 PM - Post#2230424
I was approched by a person at a local swap meet where I had some 58 Impala parts for sale.He said he has an original 1958 fuel injection set up removed from a 1958 Impala 30 -35 years ago that he offered to sell to me.I need some info on how to ident this unit and about what is its value.Also,do I need a different distributor or other parts unique to the fuel injection system?....Alf J.
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 DZAUTO
Dedicated Enthusiast
Posts: 7000
Loc: Mustang, OK, USA
Reg: 12-25-99
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05-27-12 08:47 PM - Post#2230587
In response to feffin
The ID tag, attached on the LEFT front of the plenum with 2 rivets, will have Part No. with one of the following:
7014800 (hyd lifters)
7014800R (solid lifters)
7014900 (hyd lifters)
7014900R (solid lifters).
These are model numbers of FI units used in 1958. Not many 58 pass cars got FI (I don't know the numbers installed).
MOST probably, the 7014900 was the most common for 1958.
An FI unit is worthless without the special distributor. The high pressure pump of an FI unit is cable driven by the distributor. Thus, it is MANDATORY to have an FI distributor. PERIOD!. The FI units used on hyd lifter engines had a vacuum advance and the dist for solid lifter engines did not have vac adv.
ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL 58 FI units had a finned top (the smooth top was introduced in 60).
Here is the drive cable between an FI dist and the hi-press pump.
This is the best picture I have of what the air cleaner setup would look like on a 58. The adapter attaches to the FI air intake, then a flex hose leads over to the air cleaner on the radiator support. Just these pieces alone would be worth a small fortune!!!
Finned top (57-59 units), this is a 4800 unit
Smooth top (60-62, ONLY used on Vettes)
IF, IF, IF, IF, IF, IF it is COMPLETE ------------------------- --- AND IN REBUILDABLE CONDITION, INCLUDING the complete air cleaner and distributor, then it will start at a ROCK BOTTOM price of $5000 (if this unit has been on a shelf for 35+yrs, FOR SURE, it will need a total rebuild!!!
Again, complete, and ready to bolt on, the value may be as high as $15,000. Remember, not many 58 pass cars were delivered with FI, and to find a complete 58 pass car unit WITH THE COMPLETE AIR CLEANER SETUP, will be a significant find.
Now, let's talk reality for 1958. At the time, would you have preferred to have a 283 with FI ------------------------ or a 348 with tri-power??? I'm thinking I know your answer. 
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feffin
"7th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 127
Loc: Victoria B.C. Canada
Reg: 11-30-04
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05-28-12 07:35 AM - Post#2230701
In response to DZAUTO
Thanks Tom for your input.It is a 900R unit and it does not have the distributor apparently.I'm waiting for pictures...the 58 shop manual I have shows a different air cleaner.Page 10-62 fig 110 shows a mesh type...I know pictures aren't always correct depiction ..as for my choise 348 tri-power or fuel injection I would choose the injection because of its rarety.I have a 58 348 tri power 280 hp engine but the inj intriques me...btw the owner said the car fuel inj is not the same as the Corvette,and the unit he has is from a car....Alf J.
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DZAUTO
Dedicated Enthusiast
Posts: 7000
Loc: Mustang, OK, USA
Reg: 12-25-99
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05-28-12 08:59 AM - Post#2230725
In response to feffin
That is correct, the pass car and Vette FI units were not exactly identical, BUT, I was simply trying to provide enough information to allow you to make a wise decision.
Also, the 58 and 59 pass car air cleaners are not attached directly to the FI unit as they were on the 57 pass car FI units. As I mentioned above, 58-59 pass car air cleaners (complete) are going to be a rare (and valuable) find.
As far as the distributor goes, ANY 57-65 FI distributor will function (even though it may not be the correct dist for a 58 car). The important thing is that an FI dist is the ONLY type of dist that will work!
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Richard Martin
Valued Contributor
Posts: 4315
Loc: Davis Islands, Florida
Reg: 06-12-03
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05-28-12 09:09 AM - Post#2230728
In response to DZAUTO
A 1958 Fuel Injected 4-speed Delray that for years owner has claimed to be factory built. I doubt it but what do I know.
http://www.theautocollections.com/index.cfm?key=34...
Richard
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feffin
"7th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 127
Loc: Victoria B.C. Canada
Reg: 11-30-04
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05-28-12 09:45 AM - Post#2230742
In response to DZAUTO
Good information thanks...AJ
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Bruces 57
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 1663
Reg: 01-03-07
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05-28-12 01:01 PM - Post#2230804
In response to feffin
Hello;
DZ; Stop showing those early FI units rebuilt like that! I just drooled all over myself!
Bruce
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DZAUTO
Dedicated Enthusiast
Posts: 7000
Loc: Mustang, OK, USA
Reg: 12-25-99
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05-28-12 07:40 PM - Post#2230935
In response to Bruces 57
Hello;
DZ; Stop showing those early FI units rebuilt like that! I just drooled all over myself!
Bruce
Here are some that maybe you have never seen.
This is a Corvette SR2 which now has a hard core all alum 350 engine and an FI unit (below) that I built.
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62sedan
Very Senior Member
Posts: 3328
Age: 62
Loc: North Dallas area
Reg: 08-12-02
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05-29-12 10:55 AM - Post#2231144
In response to DZAUTO
Ahhhhh.... that's a nice Cheetah!! You sure don't see many of those around anymore. Now they were some fast cars. 
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feffin
"7th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 127
Loc: Victoria B.C. Canada
Reg: 11-30-04
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05-29-12 11:58 AM - Post#2231175
In response to DZAUTO
Tom...is that the the so called tach drive distributors?
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DZAUTO
Dedicated Enthusiast
Posts: 7000
Loc: Mustang, OK, USA
Reg: 12-25-99
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05-29-12 03:41 PM - Post#2231247
In response to feffin
Tom...is that the the so called tach drive distributors?
NO it is not.
CORVETTES were the ONLY cars to get a tach drive dist. A tach drive dist has a fitting on one side that faces the firewall. That fitting is EXACTLY the same size as as the speedo cable fitting on the tail housing of a transmission.
An FI dist has a SIMILAR fitting (as seen above) on the front side of the dist which is LARGER than a speedo/tach drive fitting. SOME, but not all, FI distributors have BOTH a fitting for the FI cable AND a tach drive cable.
Below is an FI dist that also has a tach drive (both sides).
Also, something that I haven't mentioned. ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL FI distributors have their own oil feed line. It is an oil line that comes off of the threaded hole in the top rear of the block where the oil pressure fitting screws into. FI engines have a T-fitting at that location, one end of the T is for the oil line to the dist and the other is for the oil pressure sending unit.
You can see the T in this picture.
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feffin
"7th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 127
Loc: Victoria B.C. Canada
Reg: 11-30-04
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05-29-12 04:08 PM - Post#2231258
In response to DZAUTO
O.K. Tom,excellent info but that spawns some more questions.I think we all learn from this.Is the FI drive IN the dist beefier and that is the reason the drive connection is larger?....you can see where I'm heading with this..can the tach drive part on the dist be used to drive the FI pump?...and of course now it wouldn't have the oil feed.Is the drive speed to the FI pump the same as the tach drive speed? ...AJ
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DZAUTO
Dedicated Enthusiast
Posts: 7000
Loc: Mustang, OK, USA
Reg: 12-25-99
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05-29-12 05:14 PM - Post#2231274
In response to feffin
O.K. Tom,excellent info but that spawns some more questions.I think we all learn from this.Is the FI drive IN the dist beefier and that is the reason the drive connection is larger?....you can see where I'm heading with this..can the tach drive part on the dist be used to drive the FI pump?...and of course now it wouldn't have the oil feed.Is the drive speed to the FI pump the same as the tach drive speed? ...AJ
The gear which is used to turn the hi-pressure pump in the FI unit is MUCH stronger than the gear in a tach drive ONLY dist.
A tach drive dist is only turning a VERY LOW load mechanical tachometer head. Whereas, the load of the hi-press pump in the FI unit INCREASES with rpm AND throttle position.
Now, in addition to the above, if a tach drive dist was rotated around so that the tach drive was facing the FI unit, the cable would be turning in the OPPOSITE direction. WON'T WORK!
Bottom line, ONLY AN FI DIST WILL WORK WITH A ROCHESTER FI UNIT. Sorry, there is NO option. 
Last, because of the high load that occurs on the gears inside the dist for the shaft, it MUST have a very direct oil supply.
Here is a disassembled FI dist that also drives a tach (notice the double ended shaft which has the gear in the middle). I don't know why, but the gear that mates with the cross shaft gear is not in the picture. The gear that is not in the picture goes on the main shaft and looks nearly identical to the gear on the cross shaft. An FI dist that does not have a tach drive has a shorter cross shaft.
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feffin
"7th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 127
Loc: Victoria B.C. Canada
Reg: 11-30-04
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05-29-12 08:20 PM - Post#2231333
In response to DZAUTO
O.K. That is good info...Thanks...AJ.
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 wagonmaster
Moderator
Posts: 8008
Age: 64
Loc: Loganville, Ga.
Reg: 04-28-00
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 05-30-12 04:58 AM - Post#2231394
In response to feffin
Thanks Tom! Great stuff!
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f.i.57chevynut
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 1195
Loc: Granada Hills, CA
Reg: 03-04-09
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06-08-12 11:28 PM - Post#2235015
In response to DZAUTO
The picture of the "parking meter" adaptor on the air meter is a 59. The 58 used the air cleaner that attached directly to the air meter as would a 57, although the 58-59 air cleaner had the balance tube nipple centered in the air cleaner body whereas the 57 has the balance tube nipple near the top edge of the air cleaner body. The reason for the "parking meter" adaptor was that the 59 had a much lower hood clearance, causing all the 59 air cleaners to be lower, using paper elements for the carburetors instead of oil bath air cleaners. The 57 FI air cleaners( passenger and Corvette) were the first Chevies to use paper air cleaner elements.
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Richard Martin
Valued Contributor
Posts: 4315
Loc: Davis Islands, Florida
Reg: 06-12-03
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06-09-12 03:41 AM - Post#2235033
In response to f.i.57chevynut
The picture of the "parking meter" adaptor on the air meter is a 59. The 58 used the air cleaner that attached directly to the air meter as would a 57, although the 58-59 air cleaner had the balance tube nipple centered in the air cleaner body whereas the 57 has the balance tube nipple near the top edge of the air cleaner body. The reason for the "parking meter" adaptor was that the 59 had a much lower hood clearance, causing all the 59 air cleaners to be lower, using paper elements for the carburetors instead of oil bath air cleaners. The 57 FI air cleaners( passenger and Corvette) were the first Chevies to use paper air cleaner elements.
"The 58 used the air cleaner that attached directly to the air meter as would a 57,"
1958 Chevy passenger car with fuel injection ?:
http://autocollections.com/index.cfm?id=3457&a...
Richard
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feffin
"7th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 127
Loc: Victoria B.C. Canada
Reg: 11-30-04
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06-09-12 07:21 AM - Post#2235076
In response to Richard Martin
Thanks for that information...I can't find any date codes on any of the cast parts on this set-up,including the intake manifold....any ideas?...Alf j.
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f.i.57chevynut
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 1195
Loc: Granada Hills, CA
Reg: 03-04-09
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06-09-12 11:26 PM - Post#2235336
In response to feffin
The only date coded part would be the distributor. Rochester used serial numbers. Early intake manifolds had a day and month but not a year on the underside.
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feffin
"7th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 127
Loc: Victoria B.C. Canada
Reg: 11-30-04
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06-10-12 05:38 PM - Post#2235565
In response to f.i.57chevynut
Good,thank you....
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