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Tri Power issues what to do ?

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Old May 27, 2008 | 01:06 PM
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Default Tri Power issues what to do ?

sorry if I should have posted this in general,But here to scoop. We have a 69 w/ a 427ci 435hp 460fpt and a tri-pain in the a** vacume setup. Sense we are from NY the car is really only driven in the summer and after the car sits for the winter I always have to tweak the carbs to get her running. I pretty mechanically inclined but when it comes to the tri power set up I feel like using a 32oz dead blow hammer to solve the problem.
I'm wondering what you other tri-power vehical owners would do? I debating on pulling the TP & IM vacume packing it and throw on a new intake with a holly 650. This way we can actually enjoy the car with out having to carb tweak everytime it sits more than 30 days. So I ask you all do you have a better suggestion & if not where would you shop the intake and carb other than the local speed shop?
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Old May 27, 2008 | 02:32 PM
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What is the condition of your carbs? With my original carbs I was always tweaking them to get the car to run right. I shelved my carbs and bought a brand new set of carbs from holley. It was like night and day. All I need to do now is see which springs work best in the vacuum pods. Before I bought the new carbs I did put an L-88 intake with a holley 850. I liked that setup but, I am happier with the original setup with the new carbs. You could also have your carbs professionally rebuilt; the carbs are prone to warping and often need to be trued by someone who has the right equipment.
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Old May 27, 2008 | 02:37 PM
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I had a factory tri-power set up on a '67 and never had a bit of trouble with it after I rebuilt the carbs.
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Old May 27, 2008 | 05:25 PM
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I had the carbs rebuilt 4 seasons ago used the car 10-15 times that season haven't use it sense but when I put the car away I drained the fuel and ran what was leftin the lines dry. Here is what is really pissing me off I'm assuming the gaskets are dry rotted when I re fueled dumped alittle fuel in the center carb to prime and it just pissed out from the base gaskit on the carb and the gasket between the carb and intake. Even after I had the carbs rebulit I had to play with them. I guess I should just do the gaskets and take the car to real mechanic and have them set the carbs.

Let me ask you guys if your car sits for 6 months or sodo you have to play with the carbs?
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Old May 27, 2008 | 06:42 PM
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Originally Posted by BB427
I had the carbs rebuilt 4 seasons ago used the car 10-15 times that season haven't use it sense but when I put the car away I drained the fuel and ran what was leftin the lines dry. Here is what is really pissing me off I'm assuming the gaskets are dry rotted when I re fueled dumped alittle fuel in the center carb to prime and it just pissed out from the base gaskit on the carb and the gasket between the carb and intake. Even after I had the carbs rebulit I had to play with them. I guess I should just do the gaskets and take the car to real mechanic and have them set the carbs.

Let me ask you guys if your car sits for 6 months or sodo you have to play with the carbs?
You shouldn't have any problem with having the car sit for six months.
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Old May 27, 2008 | 06:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Jud Chapin
You shouldn't have any problem with having the car sit for six months.



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Old May 27, 2008 | 06:52 PM
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My car sits all winter in MN…That should not be an issue. You need someone with experience with these carbs. Jerry Luck can do the job, but it will take some time.
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Old May 27, 2008 | 08:38 PM
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Disconnect the vacuum systems on the end carbs and install some solid linkage. Run the center carb only until about 50-60% throttle, then have the end carbs come at that point. All carbs to be full open at WOT. You can leave the vacuum pods on there for looks, if you want.
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Old May 27, 2008 | 08:56 PM
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I have no problems with the adjustments here are a couple of web sites that have helped me with the adjustments needed I only set it once and no problem so far.
http://www.holley.com/data/TechServi...ded%20View.pdf
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/tripower/
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Old May 27, 2008 | 09:09 PM
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Originally Posted by 7T1vette
Disconnect the vacuum systems on the end carbs and install some solid linkage. Run the center carb only until about 50-60% throttle, then have the end carbs come at that point. All carbs to be full open at WOT. You can leave the vacuum pods on there for looks, if you want.
This would be a HUGE mistake.

You may not realize the fact that the end carbs have no provision for accelerator pumps.
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Old May 27, 2008 | 10:49 PM
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Old May 28, 2008 | 12:09 AM
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Sooooo....they work OK with vacuum actuators, but not with mechanical linkage? I'm listening...
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Old May 28, 2008 | 12:43 AM
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Originally Posted by 7T1vette
Sooooo....they work OK with vacuum actuators, but not with mechanical linkage? I'm listening...
Take a close look at this. Messing with the linkage is not a good idea. These carbs do not work like the Pontiac Gto Tri carb mechanical linkage at all.

http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/tripower/
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Old May 28, 2008 | 02:16 AM
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OK....so the center carb has the accelerator pump and the end carbs regulate fuel flow based on airflow through them. DUH! So what's new? As with most 3x2 systems, the center carb is what the engine runs on for normal operation and cruise, and the end carbs come in when the throttle is opened 'as required'. On this Holley system, some vacuum cans 'decide' when you can get gas....and with mechanical linkage, I can decide when to open them up. Hmmmm. I hope the original poster now understands how much 'better' the vacuum system is...or should be....or according to engineering design, it was anticipated to be better???? Perhaps the regulation of the outboard carbs by some vacuum 'magic' is why folks have so much trouble setting them up?

P.S. What does the lack of accelerator pumps in the end carbs have to do with anything....really?
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Old May 28, 2008 | 06:23 AM
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Hi

It mainly has to do when you dump the gas pedal to the floor at low RPM opening 6 carb holes with no vacuum demand hence no fuel being sucked in at that moment , hence the motor will bog.

When you slowly accellerate and only have the gas pedal depressed in accordance with RPM, the manual linkage will work fine.

My tripower also sits for 5 month during winter and has no problems to start and run clean except that it requires a bit of cranking the first time to fill the carb with fuel.

I overhauled them myself with seal kits. Of course I couldn't tue them in case they where warped.

Rgds. Günther
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Old May 28, 2008 | 07:12 AM
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Every tri-power I ever had [or worked on] had the accel pump in the center carb...and it was sized and adjusted to that motor's needs. That was plenty to eliminate WOT 'bog'. If that wasn't the case, you couldn't run decently on just the center carb. Anyway, my 2 cents is to go with hard linkage and disengage the "smart" vacuum system stuff.
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Old May 28, 2008 | 07:44 PM
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Originally Posted by 7T1vette
Disconnect the vacuum systems on the end carbs and install some solid linkage. Run the center carb only until about 50-60% throttle, then have the end carbs come at that point. All carbs to be full open at WOT. You can leave the vacuum pods on there for looks, if you want.

Okay when I we got the car years ago this is the way the carbs were setup. When I did the resto I had the carbs rebuilt pulled apart the mechanical linkage and installed the factory vacume/mech setup.

So hear is the verdict guy I'm keeping the tri-power. I called my father-in-law who is a old school mechanic and he volunteered to come overand adjust them correctly for me so.I haveto say 7T1 that was the 1st thing he suggested to me as well in any eventI will post some pics when I'm done. Oh that was pics of the whole shot LOL. Thanks guys
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Old May 28, 2008 | 09:36 PM
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Hey, I think it's neat that you're willing to try the factory set-up; good luck and I hope you and Dad are successful. I just didn't buy the negative feedback on my suggestion [as it didn't have any real merit]. Tell us how it came out.
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Old May 28, 2008 | 09:56 PM
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Originally Posted by 7T1vette
I just didn't buy the negative feedback on my suggestion [as it didn't have any real merit].
Yeah, what does Ironcross know anyway.
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Old May 29, 2008 | 06:02 AM
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Hi

Every tri-power I ever had [or worked on] had the accel pump in the center carb...and it was sized and adjusted to that motor's needs. That was plenty to eliminate WOT 'bog'.

Yes, that's why Holley DP carbs have accellerator pumps on primary and secondary side. So if your right, we could eliminate the one on the 2ndary side and save some fuel.

Anyway, everybody as he likes.

Rgds. Günther
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