While we wait to find out the results of the rear axle poll, preparations are being made to start the motor. The battery box, battery cables, screw on oil filter adaptor, and other items are on order and should arrive by weeks end. While we wait for these items I thought it best to do a quick inspection of our 327 and verify/check plug gaps, firing order, fuel injection hoses, connections, fittings, etc. So, lets get started. First issue, I don't know how many times I've walked by this PCV vacuum tube and tried to get it to fit into the grommet. No matter how hard I pushed it just wouldn't go.
So check this out, not only was there a freeze plug installed, there was an additional freeze plug under this one. I tried, but I can't figure it out.
I removed both freeze plugs, drilled a hole in one, then reinstalled. The tube and grommet fit snug and it's sturdy.
Next topic. Take note of the hard oil line that goes from the engine block to the distributor. The distributor for a fuel injected engine gets oiled and it operates under 100% of the engines oil pressure. So the question is, how do you time (twist) a fuel injection distributor if it's fastened to the block via an oil line? Nope, it's not just the forked bracket at the bottom of the distributor.
You have to unloosen a flat headed screw that's located just under the distributor cap. In this picture you can see it just above the PVC valve (double click the picture for a better view). This screw also keeps the oiling system from leaking.
Moving on, this chrome vacuum line wasn't connected. Look close and you'll see the hole that it fits into located just above the tube. I was surprised to find this. It was a simple fix that should have been done during assembly.
Since we found a few issues I thought it best to take a look inside the fuel injection plenum. This thing looks immaculate! Check out the size of that throttle body butterfly. It' got to be at least 4" in diameter. Everything looks great here.
In closing, all the fittings, tubing and connections have been checked and tightened as necessary. We still need to pull the distributor to verify proper alignment on the cam shaft and we need to run the oil pump for a couple minutes. We're getting close to firing this thing up. Looks pretty nice if I may say so.
Nephew James, how am I doing? Am I forgetting anything?
These are the instruments used during the surgery. If you're going to look but not sure you have the stomach you may want to blur your eyes. This is your last chance to turn away. 
Welcome to my work bench. These had to be removed so we could look deep into the bowels of our 1963 fuel injected motor. 
The fuel injection assembly was removed, put on a bench, then stood on end exposing it's underside. The brass eight legged assembly you see is the "spider". 
The spider delivers fuel to each of the injectors using a closed loop high pressure pumping system. There was a major assembly error made when the spider was installed. This error was so significant that it made this whole dis-assembly process worth while. Let's just say the engine would have been DOA at start-up had we not found this problem. Details will be discussed in a future post. 
Because of the assembly error we found it necessary to remove the fuel meter from the fuel injection assembly. The fuel meter includes the fuel bowl, float, high pressure fuel pump, and the cranking signal valve. I'd point it out in this picture but its been r-e-m-o-v-e-d. 
And here's our 327 opened up from water pump to distributor. Double click on the photo and take a good look. 
Details of the dis-assembly will be shared in an up coming post. We can say for a fact that this engine would not have run had we not taken these drastic measures. We can also say that this is one beautiful engine and it has all of the essential original components from 1963. It really is beautiful. Now go wait in the Waiting Room for the final prognosis. 
