The difference between the tri power and regular carbs
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 31
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From: Wexford PA
The difference between the tri power and regular carbs
Hey, I have notice that on some vette engines I see there is the triangle carb that says "tri" power and some are just regular round carbs. Was the tri power carb an option?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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..........The difference is a lot more tuning 
& a lot more money 
& a lot more money
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Europe , Luxembourg
Hi
Tripowers are a great setup and tuning is rather easy. Really it is only a question of correctly adjusting the linkage.
Tripower are cool looking and last but not least are the carb with the best fuel economy when driving correctly, but with fire and lots of power if required.
This because the primary carb ( center ) is rather small designed, hence regulating a correct fuel/air mixture in low RPM ranges and if required, you add 2 ea secondary carbs and open the breath right up.
Best carb for my 68 BB I drove and I tried 650, 750 and 850 DB B4.
Rgds. Günther
Tripowers are a great setup and tuning is rather easy. Really it is only a question of correctly adjusting the linkage.
Tripower are cool looking and last but not least are the carb with the best fuel economy when driving correctly, but with fire and lots of power if required.
This because the primary carb ( center ) is rather small designed, hence regulating a correct fuel/air mixture in low RPM ranges and if required, you add 2 ea secondary carbs and open the breath right up.
Best carb for my 68 BB I drove and I tried 650, 750 and 850 DB B4.
Rgds. Günther
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,285
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From: Westminster Maryland
Hi,
From the very beginning Corvettes have often had multiple carbs.
Even the original 53/54/55 6 cylinder motors had 3 carburetors. Then for a few years there were optional engines with 2- 4 barrel carburetors (56-60?). In the mid-sixties 3-2 barrel set-ups became popular (GTO, Ford, Dodge, Plymouth cars) so along came the 435 hp cars with 3-2 barrel carbs.
Regards,
Alan
From the very beginning Corvettes have often had multiple carbs.
Even the original 53/54/55 6 cylinder motors had 3 carburetors. Then for a few years there were optional engines with 2- 4 barrel carburetors (56-60?). In the mid-sixties 3-2 barrel set-ups became popular (GTO, Ford, Dodge, Plymouth cars) so along came the 435 hp cars with 3-2 barrel carbs.
Regards,
Alan
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Melting Slicks
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2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Hi,
From the very beginning Corvettes have often had multiple carbs.
Even the original 53/54/55 6 cylinder motors had 3 carburetors. Then for a few years there were optional engines with 2- 4 barrel carburetors (56-60?). In the mid-sixties 3-2 barrel set-ups became popular (GTO, Ford, Dodge, Plymouth cars) so along came the 435 hp cars with 3-2 barrel carbs.
Regards,
Alan
From the very beginning Corvettes have often had multiple carbs.
Even the original 53/54/55 6 cylinder motors had 3 carburetors. Then for a few years there were optional engines with 2- 4 barrel carburetors (56-60?). In the mid-sixties 3-2 barrel set-ups became popular (GTO, Ford, Dodge, Plymouth cars) so along came the 435 hp cars with 3-2 barrel carbs.
Regards,
Alan
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From: Southeast, Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
and it is the difference between having 3 carbs (with 2 barrels each) vs a 4 barrel single carb as mentioned
Team Owner
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From: Southbound
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Advanced
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Biloxi Mississippi
I believe the 68 set up on tri power had all 3 carbs at 350cfm for a total of 1050. On my 69 GTX, the center carb is 385 and the 2 outboards are 500 each for a total of 1385 but that does not make it faster than the Vette.
Race Director
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From: Out Where the Buses Don't Run, Eglin AFB/ Niceville FL
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Team Owner
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From: Crossville TN
EFI eliminated the need for carburetors. Carbs attempted to manage fuel flow efficiently throughout the range of engine use; some did better at it than others. A tri-power setup which operated mainly on the center carb with mechanical kick-in on the outer carbs at WOT was economical and powerful. For a carbed engine (which needed that much airflow), tri-power was a great option but was much more expensive than a single 4-barrel carb.
EFI and electronic controls made carbs obsolete (except on vintage cars, of course).
EFI and electronic controls made carbs obsolete (except on vintage cars, of course).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Just try one...........you will be HOOKED forever, there is NOTHING like a 427 with TRIPS.... NOTHING !!!
(but it was still a tri-power!) 
