tec h n ical First Fuelie Found

First Fuelie Found, Part Two The leading men of mechanical fuel injection By Ken Kayser The 1957 Corvette with Ramjet Fuel Injection caused quite a commotion when it debuted at the New York Auto Show on December 8, 1956. This was the first national auto show since before World War II. After WWII, began its own private auto shows known at the GM Motoramas. The 1957 national auto show was typical General Motors fashion the he was for the Corvette itself. Harley was held at the brand new Coliseum in answer was, “No comment.” a connoisseur of European road racing Manhattan and Harley Earl’s 1957 Intensive research fifty years later and was acutely aware of fuel injection’s Corvette Super Sport, featuring now allows us to reveal just who increased horsepower and acceleration, Ramjet fuel Injection, was center was the inspiration for GM’s fuel displayed by the Mercedes SL300 stage. GM Styling had customized injection, who was its champion, who and Enzo’s racing Ferraris. Earl had a spectacular show car with white was its genius mentor, and who was considered fuel injection on his 1949 pearlescent paint, stainless steel the operational engineer that made LeSabre high-tech show car, but side coves, and his signature Harley it actually work on the Corvette… did not want to use a Bosch injection Earl bright-blue leather interior specifically for our feature car? system and longed for a GM Research and matching racing stripes. The Lab equivalent. Harley was a close automotive press asked General THE INSPIRATION: Harley Earl, GM Vice associate and staunch ally of Harlow Motors why it pioneered fuel injection President of Styling, was the inspiration Curtice, GM Executive Vice President and who were its champions, but in for GM’s fuel-injection program, just as of North America and the ex-GM Vice

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One of the six prototype Ramjet fuel-injection units. The only remaining prototype of this group of six is this dyno unit, which is on display in the John Dolza Collection at Kettering University.

President for Buick who originally chose to head up GM’s two fuel- challenged Harley to design the Buick injection projects, John Dolza. John Y-Job. Harley Earl convinced Harlow Dolza had dual master’s degrees Curtice that General Motors needed its from the prestigious Turin Polytechnic own fuel-injection technology. Institute and had started with Buick in Harlow Curtice was the champion of 1927. Dolza had quickly distinguished General Motors fuel injection. In 1951, himself with the Buick Straight-Eight Harlow asked the GM Engineering staff engine and was soon the Buick to design and build a fuel-injection Assistant Chief Engineer reporting to system for the new 1953 Buick 50th Buick’s Chief, Charles Chayne. Anniversary “Nailhead” V-8 and to During WWII, Dolza was assigned then follow it up with a second system to GM’s Allison Division in Dayton, for the brand. If successful, Ohio, working on General Motors’ it would migrate down the chain of U.S. Defense Department top secret command to Oldsmobile, Pontiac and programs. While at Allison, John made Chevrolet. Harlow Curtice was also significant improvements to GM’s the champion of the 1953 Corvette aircraft engine fuel-injection systems, Harlow Curtice was the champion of General Motors Motorama Show Car and approved winning the prestigious SAE Manley fuel injection. He was also the Champion of the 1953 its production by Chevrolet Motor Award for 1943. After WWII, John Dolza Corvette Motorama Show Car and approved its production Division. Without Harlow’s personal headed up GM’s Engine Power Division by Chevrolet Motor Division. Without Harlow’s personal commitment, there would not have at GM Engineering Staff, working again commitment, there would not have been a Corvette at all! been a Corvette at all! for Charles Chayne, its VP. Harlow Curtice and Harley Earl The GM fuel injection was designed by Mercedes. A timed fuel-injection were professionally acquainted with to be a “timed” fuel-injection system system employees a mechanical rotary the creative expert engineer they very similar to the Bosch system used distributor to squirt fuel precisely when

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The very first unit, Serial number 1001, went appropriately to Harley Earl. needed in each cylinder, very similar production. Ed Cole assigned Zora to the ignition distributor providing a full-time to the GM Engineering Staff timed spark to each cylinder. to investigate the application of GM’s fuel-injection projects to the Chevrolet THE MENTOR: The assigned mentors V-8 and the Corvette as his main for the GM fuel-injection system were priority. This decisive action made Ed the respective VPs of both Buick and Cole the fuel-injection mentor. Cadillac Motor Divisions. Neither were When Zora Arkus-Duntov arrived particularly interested in fuel injection at GM Research to investigate GM’s and passed the responsibility down fuel-injection design and hardware, the chain of command to their chief he was well aware of Bosch’s fuel engineers. injection which was used in European Cadillac’s chief engineer at the racing, and he was eager to perfect time was Edward N. Cole. Shortly it for the Corvette V-8. Within weeks, thereafter, Cole was transferred to Zora was impressed by the GM fuel- Chevrolet as its chief engineer to injection system’s promise, but deeply develop the Chevrolet V-8 engine, concerned with the lack of robustness which he enthusiastically endorsed. it displayed. Zora wrote a several-page Harley Earl, GM Vice President of Styling, was the Ed Cole fell in love with Earl’s 1953 letter to Ed Cole, citing each of the inspiration for GM’s fuel-injection program, just as he Corvette Show Car at GM’s 1953 weaknesses he observed with the GM was for the Corvette itself. Harley Earl convinced Harlow Motorama and became mentor for prototypes and offering suggestions Curtice that General Motors needed its own fuel-injection both and the V-8 to address each concern. Zora also technology. engine projects. recommended a parallel development Zora Arkus-Duntov also fell in love of a non-timed fuel injection with a Chevrolet and Cadillac asked the with the 1953 Corvette Motorama mass flow air meter (MAF) where the GM Engineering staff to develop a Show Car. He wrote a letter to Ed fuel nozzles would flow continuously. “continuous flow fuel-injection system Cole and was soon hired to engineer Ed Cole shared Zora’s report with C.F. with mass air flow” and John Dolza the Corvette and the V-8 engine. By Arnold, his replacement at Cadillac, agreed. In less than eight months, John January 1955, the GM fuel-injection who conferred and agreed with Zora’s Dolza and Zora Arkus-Duntov had a projects were being considered for assessment. functional working prototype assigned

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Earl eagerly assigned fuel-injection serial number 1001 to his styling staff for polishing and chrome plating befitting of the Corvette Super Sport show car for the New York Auto Show debut.

to the Rochester Products Division for Chevrolet Engineering fuel-injection mass production responsibility. test cars; two 1956 Chevy passenger John Dolza was content with cars #6201 and #6202 and one lone the traditional non-descript and 1955 Corvette #5950. Harry Barr, unglamorous approach to under hood Chevrolet’s Chief Engineer, was GM fuel-injection design. Zora on the forced to get involved and negotiate other hand wanted to “sex it up.” To with RPD. Zora, fuel injection had to look as In June 1956, Barr told RPD that good as it performed! Zora personally Chevrolet Engineering needed eight oversaw Chevrolet’s design of the fuel-injection units. RPD agreed signature finned aluminum doghouse, that Chevrolet Engineering could and Zora received a U.S. Patent for purchase only six final prototype its design and the application of the fuel-injection units at the staggering tuned length runner concept to ram cost of $2,500 each. Chevrolet then air into the cylinders when the intake changed its requirements; two units valve opened, hence known as Ramjet for dyno testing and four for vehicle Injection. testing. RPD stated it could only produce and ship one per week, CHEVROLET’S TESTING: starting in July. RPD’s statement Rochester Products Division (RPD) proved to be a serious omen of the Ed Cole assigned Zora full-time to the GM Engineering was unprepared for such a large scarcity that would soon be known Staff to investigate the application of GM’s fuel-injection undertaking as fuel injection, but to all of General Motors. projects to the Chevrolet V-8 and the Corvette as his covered up their shortcomings One of these six prototype Ramjet main priority. This decisive action made Ed Cole the fuel- so much that Zora could not get fuel-injection units was secretly fitted injection mentor. injection units to properly develop to a 1956 Corvette race car with the application to the Corvette V-8, the Duntov camshaft and was tested of this group of six is a dyno unit, on much less passenger cars too. In by Dr. Dick Thompson and Mauri display in the John Dolza Collection May of 1956, there were only three Rose. The only remaining prototype at Kettering University.

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Zora Duntov proudly shows off the first production fuel-injected Corvette to Tom McCahill at the Chevrolet Engineering Center. The third Model 7014360, serial number 1003, went to Chevrolet Engineering, where it was mated up with the first hand-assembled RPO-579C (PN 3741697) fuel-injected 283hp V-8 engine, stamped F826EL. This car (E57S100010, a.k.a. number 10) was selected for a road test demonstration at the Long Lead Press Preview. It was re-fitted with this very special fuel-injection engine and is, thus, forever dubbed “The First Fuelie”.

PRODUCTION OF THE RAMJET The third Model 7014360, serial FUEL INJECTION: Rochester number 1003, went to Chevrolet Products started production of its Engineering where it was mated up Model 7014360 exclusively for the with the first hand-assembled RPO- Chevrolet Corvette in late August 1956. 579C (PN 3741697) fuel-injected The very first unit, Serial number 1001, 283hp V-8 engine, stamped F826EL. went appropriately to the inspiration The 1957 Corvette selected for road of GM’s fuel injection, Harley Earl. test demonstration at the Long Lead Earl eagerly assigned it to his Styling press preview was E57S100010 staff for polishing and chrome plating a.k.a. number 10 and it was re-fitted befitting of the Corvette Super Sport with this very special fuel-injection Show Car for the New York Auto engine and is, thus, forever dubbed Show debut. “The First Fuelie.” The second Model 7014360, Last month we covered the chassis Serial Number 1002, went to GM through the restoration process Photographic for the necessary photo and will continue to document shoots for publicity and technical the restoration of this significant materials needed to support fuel automobile, right up to the point In less than eight months, John Dolza (shown) and injection at your local Chevrolet where we will have it in our booth at Zora Arkus-Duntov had a functional working prototype dealer. The whereabouts of this unit this year’s Corvettes at Carlisle on assigned to the Rochester Products Division for mass are unknown. August 28-30. n production responsibility.

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