Ford Tri-Power Manifold?
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Ford Tri-Power Manifold?
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?
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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....
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....
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,056
Likes: 8
From: Union, Washington
Originally Posted by 85e150six4mtod
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....
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....
Hotshot
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
Likes: 25
From: south louisiana
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 ($$$$$$$) And Carl's Ford Parts ( I don't personally deal with him nor recommend anyone who refuses to publish prices, just throwing him out as an option) "Prices on request" always did and always will send me running to someone else.
huh???) Someone who says the tripower is hard to set and tune, hasn't worked with em. If they did, the carbs were worn out. Got a repop 3x2 on a 331 small block. AWESOME POWER, awesome sounding setup (roll the windows up and hear the stereo at WOT ) I've seen an aftermarket setup that used the Autolite 2100's too. With my luck and these(2100's), thats something I wouldn't try. My 331's though, once I spent about a hour with em (jet changes) were trouble free for good. The drawback to that 3x2 intake though is the price of new carbs, those are going to set you back at least a grand. Only three sources for new carbs, Summit Racing and use the Mopar carbs, Barry Grant has em in their brand ($$$$$$$) 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.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
Likes: 25
From: south louisiana
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.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,056
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From: Union, Washington
Originally Posted by baddad457
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.
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Originally Posted by Bear 45/70
.................. I don't think 85e150six4mtod has ever seen much less had any experience with the tri-power in question.
Are they better than current 4bbl manifolds? Are they cool? Did I get anything right? Thanks for the corrections.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,056
Likes: 8
From: Union, Washington
Originally Posted by 85e150six4mtod
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.
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!
Needsmorecoffee.
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,624
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From: CT
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??
$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??
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,056
Likes: 8
From: Union, Washington
Originally Posted by royalchoppers
Ouch, that is expensive.
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.
FE "Freakin Expensive"
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,461
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From: Smith Mountain Lake, VA
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 !!
Hotshot
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
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From: south louisiana
Originally Posted by FFR428
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??
$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??
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. 