I have found on another forum I frequent a used Ford Tri-Power intake manifold for sale for $350 OBO. It has a stripped lower bolt hole on the thermostat area. It also has a drilled hole in the #3 runner (who knows why). Both issues seem fixable. Are these intakes capable of making good power or is it better to run a Blue Thunder intake or something of the sort? The carb mounting surfaces are mounted at an angle so I guess I would have to space them out so the carbs would sit level in my truck? Lets here your thoughts? Good deal? Good go fast part? What carb did these use to have bolted up?

 

Tri power used 3 Ford 2bbls, made ok power in the day, cool factor is there.

More power available with newer 4bbl manifolds. Check these postings, there are some with specific info. Search "performer" and find more.

Tri power is a pita to tune, those Ford 2bbls aren't the best and many leak.

Holley 2bbls can be had but why buy 3 when one will do?

Plus, you gotta fix it and hope it holds....

 

First off the Ford 3X2 set up used 3 Holley 2300 carbs. The 390 was rated at 860CFM and the 406 was rated at 920 CFM. However both setups were identical. Mechanical linkage, the center carb reached about 1/3 throttle then the front carb was picked up and at 1/2 throttle the rear carb tipped in. All carbs reached WOT at the same time. All 3 carbs were Identical except for the linkage. All carbs were Holley 2 barrels rated at 350 CFM, but as seen engine size effects CFM capacity. They were easy to set up and use. Mine outpreforedmthe stock 4 barrel set up on my 428CJ by a solid 2/10th in the quarter in my 1969 Cobra. I don't think 85e150six4mtod has ever seen much less had any experience with the tri-power in question.

 

What do you think about the price Bear?

 

I have to agree with Bear this time ( huh???) Someone who says the tripower is hard to set and tune, hasn't worked with em. If they did, the carbs were worn out. Got a repop 3x2 on a 331 small block. AWESOME POWER, awesome sounding setup (roll the windows up and hear the stereo at WOT ) I've seen an aftermarket setup that used the Autolite 2100's too. With my luck and these(2100's), thats something I wouldn't try. My 331's though, once I spent about a hour with em (jet changes) were trouble free for good. The drawback to that 3x2 intake though is the price of new carbs, those are going to set you back at least a grand. Only three sources for new carbs, Summit Racing and use the Mopar carbs, Barry Grant has em in their brand ($$$$$$$) And Carl's Ford Parts ( I don't personally deal with him nor recommend anyone who refuses to publish prices, just throwing him out as an option) "Prices on request" always did and always will send me running to someone else.

 

As for the price, that's about the going price. I just sold one with the exhaust crossover rotted out (I removed it completely) and heavy pitting in the intake runners beneath on ebay for $230.

 

I agree on the price.

 

Seen it, yes, remembered it correctly, no, experience, no, did drive a GTO with Tri-power but never got past the center carb....

Are they better than current 4bbl manifolds? Are they cool? Did I get anything right? Thanks for the corrections.

 

Better than a single 4 barrels setup, Yes. "A lot of little holes work better than a couple of big holes." per Holley Tech, 1969 Tulsa Nationals.

They are extremely cool plus they work great.

GTO (Pontiac) tri-power were vacuum controlled for the front and rear carbs from the factory and when coverted to mechanical linkage work like crap.

Driving a tri-power without getting into all the carbs is like kissing your sister....Boring!

 

I can swing the cost of the intake but the carbs make it a little out of my league right now. It would be cool though.

 

Hey BD Carl's has all the prices posted on his site. $995 for a set of new 3x2 reissued Holleys. I've bought from him over the years and he's been straight with me on everything.

www.carlsfordparts.com

Are you sure it's him your thinking of??

 

Ouch, that is expensive.

 

Hey you can always go for the complete setup for $1950. If I remember right I paid $200 for mine with everything. Manifold, carbs, linkage, fuel log and air cleaner and it was new in the trunk of the 1962 Ford with 406.

 

Hell RC if your gonna go 3 dueces? Just got ahead and go 2 X 4's.....cost about the same for the carbs "maybe " even cheaper? Just make sure you have enough CR, Cam,Head flow, and headers !!

 

I haven't ever been to his site, he turned me off long ago with the P.O.R. thing. His ads in several publications used to list all sorts of juicy stuff but no prices, only P.O.R.'s He also has been on the FTE site getting into it with other dealers in the past, about his "exclusitivity" contract with Holley on repop carbs. That was a turn off to me as well. I can find what I want elsewhere.