Rochester RX: Part IIAir Meets Fuel As We Continue To Explore The Mysteries Of The Rochester Fuel Injection System From the June, 2009 issue of Vette By John Nelson
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We covered quite a bit of ground in Part One of our Rochester fuel injection re-do (April 2003). After briefly discussing the history of fuel injection systems in general, and Rochester's mechanical version in specific, we described the Rochester F.I. unit's fuel meter. We then followed along as our Fuelie expert, Chuck Smith of Chuck Smith Performance Services, reassembled said fuel meter on our subject '60-vintage system. In this installment, the second of three, we'll cover the air meter re-assembly process, as well as the installation of the injectors, the fuel lines, the vacuum lines, and the throttle linkage. Is It Really That Simple?
In Rochester Rx, Part One, we stated that "Overhauling A '60 Rochester Fuel Injection Unit Is Simpler Than You Think." Now, we're not backing off of that statement, but we do want to clarify it a bit. Dave McLellan calls the Rochester mechanism "a complex jewel of a system" in his book, Corvette From the Inside. And it is, especially when it comes to the fuel meter. The unique lever and pivot assembly, along with the spill plunger, which we described last time, are complex. In other words, there's a lot of parts to keep in proper working order! On the other hand, that complexity is in the details. Once broken down into its various subsystems, the Rochester mechanical fuel injection system reveals its mysteries in an understandable way. A Rochester unit has three basic systems: The fuel meter, the air meter, and the intake manifold. We've covered the fuel meter; as for the manifold, we'll just note that Zora Arkus-Duntov (along with Joe Dolza) was instrumental in its development, which led to "ram pipes" to each cylinder, as well as the two-piece design that helps keep the injection nozzles cooler. (Jerry Burton discusses Zora's role in the Rochester project in his book Zora Arkus-Duntov: The Legend Behind Corvette.) That leaves us with the air system. As we said before, the fuel meter lever and pivot, and therefore the spill plunger, are controlled by three diaphragms. These diaphragms are activated as necessary by vacuum. These vacuum signals are fed to the fuel meter from the air meter via various vacuum lines. Air, Fuel, And Mathematics
The appropriate vacuum signals are created in the throttle body by running the air through a venturi. This venturi is created by placing a diffuser cone in the intake opening. As air rushes around the cone and past the throttle valve, pressure drops or increases, depending on the circumstances. The vacuum signal corresponds mathematically to the flow of air entering the engine. This carefully calculated vacuum signal then activates the diaphragms in the fuel meter, which in turn activates the moveable pivot and lever assembly, which moves the spill plunger, which allows the proper amount of fuel (mathematically calculated, of course) to reach the injector nozzles. This creates a air/fuel ratio ranging from 12.5:1 (performance) to 15.5:1 (economy). Here it is in slightly more practical terms: * A high airflow/high vacuum signal raises the linkage, but lowers the spill plunger. This shuts off the spill port, raising injection pressure and richening the mixture. * A low airflow/low vacuum signal lowers the linkage but raises the spill plunger. This opens the spill port, bleeding off injector pressure and leaning the mixture. * At idle, the air meter vacuum signal is very weak. This allows the control diaphragm to drop, which opens the spill port all the way, sending most of the fuel back into the float bowl. There is also an electric choke system, which we've explained below, and a fuel cut-off diaphragm (for coasting and deceleration) that is vacuum activated. As with all our vacuum lines, we'll make sure this one is hooked up and getting the proper signals. LET'S GET TO IT, ALREADY!
We asked our expert, Mr. Smith, if he had any advice concerning the Rochester F.I. air meter, and it turned out to be the same as for the fuel meter: Everything needs to be clean, and it needs to be properly assembled and adjusted. With these tasks accomplished, Chuck says, "It should work just fine." All the Rochester's parts--hard lines included--were sent out to be sonically cleaned before re-assembly. Chuck also uses new hoses and gaskets throughout. As for proper assembly and adjustment, we'll jump back in and show you how it's done. Next time, we'll deal with a pair of Rochester bugaboos that are often mistaken for more serious problems: The fuel pump and the distributor.  Here's our nearly complete...  Here's our nearly complete '60 Rochester fuel injection unit, looking good as new. This view shows off the air meter side of the unit, which is the part of the system we'll be focusing on in this installment.  This simplified diagram shows...  This simplified diagram shows the basic function of the air meter. Air passing through the intake creates a vacuum. This vacuum passes through a tube to the main control diaphragm, which adjusts the moveable pivot and lever system, and allows the correct amount of fuel to be fed to the injectors.  In this view of the air meter,...  In this view of the air meter, Rochester expert Chuck Smith has slid the throttle valve shaft into place and inserted the butterfly valve in its proper position.  After replacing the two butterfly...  After replacing the two butterfly valve screws, Chuck completes the throttle valve shaft assembly by installing the throttle linkage. It's held in place by a roll pin (1). The set screw (2) should be adjusted until the butterfly shows proper clearance...  ...which is .003-inch, as...  ...which is .003-inch, as measured with a feeler gauge.  The idle speed screw is then...  The idle speed screw is then replaced. Chuck screws it in all the way before backing it out two full turns. This gets you in the ballpark, but the final adjustment will have to wait until the completed unit is back on the car.  The air/fuel ratio screw is...  The air/fuel ratio screw is backed out two turns from fully seated. As with the idle speed screw, final adjustment will have to wait until the unit is replaced.  At this point, the air meter...  At this point, the air meter can be bolted onto the intake manifold (aka the "doghouse"), using the proper gasket (arrow), of course.  The air diffuser is then screwed...  The air diffuser is then screwed to the air meter. This cone creates a venturi effect, which in turn creates the vacuum signals that control the Rochester F.I. fuel meter system. Note the O-ring on the meter (arrow), which needs to be fully seated in its groove.  Our next step is to reassemble...  Our next step is to reassemble and reinstall the choke unit. As you can see in this diagram, the enrichment vacuum tube passes through the choke. During cold starts, the choke cuts off the vacuum from the air meter with a check ball. This puts the fuel enrichment diaphragm in a "more fuel" position. As the choke thermostat heats up, the check ball allows vacuum to pass through, returning the system to normal operation.  Our first order of business...  Our first order of business is to replace the smaller signal control valve in the choke housing...  ...followed by the aforementioned...  ...followed by the aforementioned check ball...  ...and a spring.  It's all held in place with...  It's all held in place with this steel cap...  ...which is tapped into place...  ...which is tapped into place with a hammer and a small drift.  The other, larger signal control...  The other, larger signal control valve and its spring are helped in place with a brass cap.  The choke housing is then...  The choke housing is then screwed into place on the air meter, again using the proper gasket.  After a thorough cleaning,...  After a thorough cleaning, the original electric choke unit itself is then replaced. It's especially important to make sure that the lever (arrow) is free of corrosion.  In this shot, our choke assembly...  In this shot, our choke assembly is nearly complete. The electric choke unit has been screwed into its housing, with its ground wire in place (1). The pivot assembly has been installed onto the choke (2), while the choke "cam" has been screwed to the air meter (3). The rod that connects them is in place (4), and the choke idle screw has been replaced (5). Chuck sets the screw to contact the low spot in the cam; final adjustment will have to be made when this unit is installed. He then sets the adjustment on the choke unit itself at 1-1/2 notches "rich," or counterclockwise.  At this point, the air meter...  At this point, the air meter is almost complete, and it's time to move on to the injector assemblies. The injector nozzle consists of, from left to right, the nozzle head, a nozzle disc (which allows the proper amount of fuel to enter the nozzle), a nozzle screen to help keep the disc clean (the correct side must be facing down or fuel won't flow), and the nozzle body. Chuck makes sure each nozzle assembly is working properly by spraying carb cleaner through it. Parts are replaced as necessary.  Every nozzle head is fitted...  Every nozzle head is fitted with a small O-ring before being inserted into the nozzle block.  The nozzle assemblies are...  The nozzle assemblies are run through the block and into these brass fittings (arrow), which correspond to the holes in the intake manfold.  The bolt holds the block to...  The bolt holds the block to the manifold, while the small metal place holds the injectors in place.  Chuck then flips our Fuelie...  Chuck then flips our Fuelie unit over to install the fuel lines, commonly known as "The Spider." Here, he's fitted the center of the Spider into its rubber grommet and made sure that the lines clear the throttle linkage.  Each line is then connected...  Each line is then connected to its corresponding injector block. These lines look just as they should. According to Chuck, several of the lines had been bent closer to the doghouse in a misguided attempt to make the system look better. He carefully bent them back to their proper position.  The main fuel line (arrow)...  The main fuel line (arrow) is then installed, allowing go-go juice to flow from the fuel meter to the Spider.  Coming into the home stretch,...  Coming into the home stretch, it's time to connect the air meter and the fuel system. The "H" shaped system of metal tubes and rubber hoses allow vacuum from the air meter to reach the injector nozzles, which helps the fuel to atomize.  In this photo, the vacuum...  In this photo, the vacuum tube to the main control diaphragm has been installed. Chuck is fastening one end to the air meter; he's pointing at the other end, which attaches to the T-fitting atop the fuel meter, with a screwdriver.  Looking underneath the unit,...  Looking underneath the unit, we can see how the vacuum tube to the main control diaphragm is routed (1). We've also installed the vacuum enrichment tube (2), which is connected to the fuel enrichment diaphragm (3), routed under and through the injector vacuum tubes...  ...and connect to the appropriate...  ...and connect to the appropriate fitting on the choke housing (arrow).  The remainder of the throttle...  The remainder of the throttle linkage is then installed. The throttle linkage bell crank is held onto its shaft with a cotter pin (behind the throttle spring); the throttle rod bolts to the linkage on one end and the throttle valve linkage on the other.  This fitting is then replaced...  This fitting is then replaced onto the doghouse; it won't be reconnected until the unit is back in the car.  After putting the intake manifold...  After putting the intake manifold gaskets in place, Chuck reunites the fuel injection unit and the manifold.  And finally, the ballast tube...  And finally, the ballast tube is routed across the front of our great-looking and almost-ready-to-go Rochester fuel injection unit. In Part Three, we'll finish up with two critical, but often overlooked components: the Rochester system's high-pressure fuel pump and the unique distributor that drives it. See you then! YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK! In Part One, we extolled the virtues The Chevrolet Ramjet Fuel Injection System, which is being reproduced by Corvette America. (Route 322, Box 427, Dept. VM, Boalsburg, PA 16827; 800/458-3475, www.corvetteamerica.com). In preparing to write Part Two of "Rochester Rx" I referred to this pamphlet again and again to make sure I understood how the unique system works. Each subsystem is explained in detail, and the line drawings are top-notch; several have been used in this story. It's fascinating and useful reading, for the do-it-yourselfer the merely curious, and for those seeking to know everything about vintage Corvettes. Like we said before, when it comes to taking care of a Rochester F.I. system, you can't have too much information.
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