is it possible to run a tri-power setup on a 455 motor. im trying to customize for a 50's look and am just wondering if it can be done? thanks in advance
That is one cherry 58.... I've never seen a tri-powered 455, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist! I just wanted to say cool car:TU:
Sure you can! But you have to fab an intake manifold (assuming Buick never had made one). The engines runs on the center (2bbl) carb, the front & rear carbs are vac activated. The center carb acts just like the primary side on a qjet, where the other 2 act as the secondaries. I had placed 68 3-2's on my 66 Vette, looked great and ran very well, but if you want the most power, it is not the way to go. I really liked them.:bglasses: It will be a bit pricey.:Smarty:
I'm not sure how good of an option it is, but didn't Kenne-Bell sell adapter plates to mount a Mopar intake onto a BBB??o No: If it will work, Mopar had those six pack setups....:Brow:
K-B I saw a picture of one of those Slopar manifold on a 455 a couple of years ago. The guy was running it non-progressive as if it was a 6 barrel carb. As I recall, it got good milage and performance...relative.
Re: Sure you can! Dan : I have always thought the same; however, as you know the 427 vette hydraulic cam was rated 390 hp 4 barrel and 400hp tri power. As another example the 66 Olds 442 was 350 and 360 respectively. In speed tests the tri power Olds was king over almost everthing in 66 the only year it was offerred. www.cccvette.com I am sure your point is that the factory could have supplied the optimum air and fuel ratio through some other type of 4 barrel set up. But you cannot compare them for visual effect. Just the other day a man looking under the hood of my Olds proudly informed his son "now there is an engine with 3 fours" Guess he was partially blinded by those chrome air cleaner lids. Jim Lore
I think someone modified an aluminim 455 intake a long time ago and made it into a 3 duce intake, but I may not be remembering correctly. If I come across any info I'll post it here.
Might be able to do somthing with an offy dual quad manifold, as it is pretty flat across the top and would probably be easy to weld a plate in the middle of the two pads. I recall a guy a few years back who millled the the top off an offy. He then welded a plate on top with an opening milled to match his blower. worked well. This would be a good one for Jim W. to address as there may be some issue with getting the manifold to flow correctly.o No:
I agree with using using the Offy intake. Use 2bbl-to-4bbl adapters on the two carb pads, then in the middle (where the two plenums are joined), drill holes for the venturis and mounting bolts and use a spacer (or weld something like the last post suggested) so the middle carb sit at the proper height. This just seem like the easiest to do physically, and since it's for a 50's custom, all out performance isn't the top priority. It might look a little cleaner if you started off by just cutting the top right off and welding a dedicated 3x2 top on, but it all depends on what you want to spend.
i think im just going to go with a 2 carburators. it will be alot easier and will just look as good. thanks for all the info though
did you say Tri-power Not sure where this came from but I saved it... Seems like I read it was one of about 3 that Weiand made a long time ago that got "sneeked" out the back door. regards
Ken, the picture you have is Ed Mchams car. Greg Tomlinson made that intake from an Offy manifold. I dont know if Ed is still running that set-up or not, but you might want to try to get in touch with him.Bob Lorenz from R&R Restoration in Longview,TX has his #.
Nice picture Ken But the Vette 3-2's air cleaner looks the best (by far) to me. I guess I should have kept this set up....ou:
