sbc tripower verses fuel injection?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
sbc tripower verses fuel injection?
HELP! I found a guy in Jasper, Ga. that builds a great looking three duce set up for sbc's. The price is roughly $1100.00 He says he sets the jets to match the engine set up, adjust all three carbs, test runs them on a high performance engine in his shop, and basically "promises" all you need to do is "bolt it on and go." My sons seem to think that even though this guy claims all of this, the 3 x 2 will be a pain to keep running, to keep adjusted, and if a carb goes bad, it would be a nightmere to change it out and re-adjust. They think fuel injection is the way to go. Problem is of course, the cost is closer to $1700.00 or more, and you lose the look of the 3 x 2's. Has anyone ever put 3 x 2's on their vette, and was it the pain they believe it could be? I'm also putting a 700r4 in the car, does that matter in either case? Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
The 3x2 setup will give you more power, worse MPG, and yes it should be a pain to adjust based on weather or season, and if you have to replace a carb it'll be hard integrate it back in.
That being said, fuel injection will give you reliability, better MPG, year round tune free driving, and it should last you longer with less maintenance.
The fuel injection probably won't look as cool, and will cost more, but I think it has more value.
That being said, fuel injection will give you reliability, better MPG, year round tune free driving, and it should last you longer with less maintenance.
The fuel injection probably won't look as cool, and will cost more, but I think it has more value.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
I'd think the setup with the best intake manifold will make the most power. Are there any 3x2 intakes out there that flow as well as a single plane EFI manifold?
Besides that, I agree with DB.
Oh, and with EFI you'll be able to park the car in your garage on a hot day and your house won't smell of gas. And you can start it on a 20F day by just turning the key.
Besides that, I agree with DB.
Oh, and with EFI you'll be able to park the car in your garage on a hot day and your house won't smell of gas. And you can start it on a 20F day by just turning the key.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
You can add TPI fuel injection for way under $1700. You can buy nice units for $300 or so, add harness $500, fuel pump $100, ECM and PROM $200, maybe $100 more in incidentals and you can do it right for $1200. If you shop a harness or make your own from a '90 3.1 Corsica or Cavalier or Camaro you can shave even more $ off. 3x2 look neat, but so does TPI.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 299
From: Midlothian VA
HELP! I found a guy in Jasper, Ga. that builds a great looking three duce set up for sbc's. The price is roughly $1100.00 He says he sets the jets to match the engine set up, adjust all three carbs, test runs them on a high performance engine in his shop, and basically "promises" all you need to do is "bolt it on and go." My sons seem to think that even though this guy claims all of this, the 3 x 2 will be a pain to keep running, to keep adjusted, and if a carb goes bad, it would be a nightmere to change it out and re-adjust. They think fuel injection is the way to go. Problem is of course, the cost is closer to $1700.00 or more, and you lose the look of the 3 x 2's. Has anyone ever put 3 x 2's on their vette, and was it the pain they believe it could be? I'm also putting a 700r4 in the car, does that matter in either case? Thanks
I had a 3 duce setup on my GTO w/mechanical linkage.
Never had a problem with it. All kinds of power when the front/rear kicked in and it was somewhat "mild mannered" rolling around on the center 2 bbl. Mechanical linkage is very easy to adjust - you set up the center carb for optimal "2 bbl performance" then adjust the front and rear linkage to bring in the other carbs at the same time. Just think of them as remote secondaries; they don't come into play until you're looking at/near WOT. Of course you better check your hood clearance before you buy as the front carb will not clear the stock hood on most setups I've seen. I have a sbc offenhauser 3x2 setup in my garage now but have never gotten around to installing it. Never experienced any of the issues described above...well except for the gas milage but that wasn't a concern in the late 70's. Oh, and there's no substitue for those 3x2's when you pop the hood.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,380
Likes: 6,391
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
I've run Tripowers on GTOs and Chevys. There is nothing to adjust after it's been set up - the mechanical linkage is simple to set up, and does not need any re-adjustment once it's been set. The systems are reliable and work well, and there is no more need to re-adjust anything than there is on a normal carb - I've run Tripower systsems for years without ever needing to do any type of adjjustment. I've never heard of a Tripower carb "going bad," but if you have to remove/replace one, it's no more difficult to do than a single 4-barrel carb.
The original purpose of the Tripower systems was to get more airflow, since the "normal" GM 4-barrel carbs of the time (50's and early 60's)were the cfm-handicapped 4GC, WCFB and AFB carbs. With the advent of the Q-Jet, with 750 cfm, there was little justification for running multiple carbs - keep in mind that three 2-barrel carbs cannot feed 8 cylinders are uniformly as a single 4-barrel mounted in the center. So for true performance, use a single 4-barrel of the right size or fuel injection. But the 3x2 setup cannot be beaten for looks or for the sound & feel of the end carbs going to WOT...
The original purpose of the Tripower systems was to get more airflow, since the "normal" GM 4-barrel carbs of the time (50's and early 60's)were the cfm-handicapped 4GC, WCFB and AFB carbs. With the advent of the Q-Jet, with 750 cfm, there was little justification for running multiple carbs - keep in mind that three 2-barrel carbs cannot feed 8 cylinders are uniformly as a single 4-barrel mounted in the center. So for true performance, use a single 4-barrel of the right size or fuel injection. But the 3x2 setup cannot be beaten for looks or for the sound & feel of the end carbs going to WOT...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,359
Likes: 428
From: Seattle Area WA
What looks even more exotic is Weber setup on a SBC. BTW, have you checked out the Barry Grant 6 pack for Small Blocks?
http://www.barrygrant.com/news/artic...oduct_004.aspx
http://www.barrygrant.com/news/artic...oduct_004.aspx
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
Does he have any experience with this tri-power setup and the TV cable for the 700R4 transmission you mentioned? It would almost have to connect to the center carb with either a vacuum or mechanical linkage 3x2 setup. I think that part would be tricky to place. That is not something that you can ignore, the 700R4 will self destruct very quickly with no or incorrectly adjusted TV cable. TBI, TPI, LT1 all have correct provisions for the TV cable.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 306
Likes: 0
From: New Hampshire
I used to have tri=power on a 69 Barracuda, it does look cool, I love the sound but I do not think it will give more power then a good 4 barrell. I think Hot Rod Magazine did a show-down a few years ago on this subject. Get it for the coolness and the sound with progressive linkage, not for the power.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
In one of my cars (not a Vette), I have a GM 350HO 330hp crate engine with Edelbrock EFI backed by a 700R4. While the EFI doesn't have the wow factor of three deuces or EFI like TPI, it is an awesome performing combination.
In our world of performance cars, aesthetics is surely important, but I think EFI is the way to go.
In our world of performance cars, aesthetics is surely important, but I think EFI is the way to go.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 389
Likes: 1
From: West Point Utah
here is what a old school Tri Power set up will look like
All post are true, i smell gas,cold starts suck
I get 17/gal but hot rodders love the look
Yes I also had to go with a L-88 hood to clear the
Tri Power If you want proformance then go with FI If you want
a bad look then it is Tri Power all the way
All post are true, i smell gas,cold starts suck
I get 17/gal but hot rodders love the look
Yes I also had to go with a L-88 hood to clear the
Tri Power If you want proformance then go with FI If you want
a bad look then it is Tri Power all the way
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: Henrietta New York
Running a 389 Tri-power in my 66 GTO. Nothing like it for sound and feel when the outers kick in. The trick to these set-ups is to ensure they are sealed up and jetted correctly. If the outers aren't you can get fuel bypassing the needle/seat, hence fuel oder and hard starts. Never have had a problem. Linkage is all mechanical and a breeze to set. There is no adjustments to the outers other than float basically. A good set-up person will ensure the leading edges of the outer carb butterfly's are sealing correctly in the throttle bores. In my mind that is the most critical part.
I was thinking of popping a set-up on my 81 when the time comes. Just depends on NY emissions and if I can ditch all that stuff.
I was thinking of popping a set-up on my 81 when the time comes. Just depends on NY emissions and if I can ditch all that stuff.
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
R.E. Tri-power
T.ry Hot Rod Carburetion. They have kits for progressive linkage . their basic kit has new end carb bases and complete instructions how to convert all 3 carbs. I LOVE mine on my sb 67 Malibu! Running kit for over 4 yrs with a th350 and I get tire chirp in low and second gear!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
If you want better starts, better mileage, and reliability go with the EFI system. You can still get good starts, decent mileage and decent reliability with the 3x2 system if the carbs are set up right and the choke is working correctly; but you get a better WOW-factor with the dueces.
Personally...with a C3, I would choose the 3x2 setup. And I think they would fit under a SB hood, if you found (or fabricated) some drop-base individual filters/housings. You could even rig up a single 3-carb air cleaner which would be cool.
Personally...with a C3, I would choose the 3x2 setup. And I think they would fit under a SB hood, if you found (or fabricated) some drop-base individual filters/housings. You could even rig up a single 3-carb air cleaner which would be cool.
