Technical multi carbs why so popular?

Why are 3 duece setups so popular ? 6 carbs ? Looks or performance?

 

At the time of their inception, performance. Today, mainly for looks. When people were hopping up the new OHV V8 engines in the 1950s, there was no such thing as a four barrel carburetor that flowed enough to feed a modified engine singularly. The first four barrel carbs all flowed in the 300-400 cfm range.

 

Of course, dual or triple setups on inline sixes and eights are beneficial from a fuel distribution point of view.

 

Looks. I'm sure they perform fairly well too, but any time when you have the possibility of each cylinder being fed from unpredictable places (such as when 6 carb throats feed 8 cylinders) it won't be easy to tune it perfectly. Cylinder 3 is running lean and 4 is rich, which carb throat needs bigger jets and which needs smaller ones?

Back in the day it was cheap and easy to grab several small stock carbs instead of finding & buying one larger that could give the same power, so that's probably a large part of what made it popular. But for actual performance and ease of tuning there's probably lots of better options now.

 

Three Stromberg 97s wide open still don't equal a 600 cfm four barrel carburetor.

 

Technical answer...
Cuz it's just the coolest shit.

 

Because they look like performance

 

Can’t beat cool, especially when they were cheap. But by 57 the E code fords were using Holley’s , and the Merc’s Carter’s (you got what you paid for, Merc’s cost more). Later factory tri power’s used more modern 2 barrel’s. By the end of the “six pack” era they were all more modern carbs, and probably more marketing than performance. Right on the edge of OT here by year. Big 4 barrels and modern manifolds owned performance by then.

 

Because two is better than one three is better than two four is better than three and so on .

 

wot?

 

Multiple carbs that are set up properly, all working and running well are cool. Way cool.

Multiple carbs that only have one or two hooked up and working, not as cool. I do understand that not everyone has the time or the ability to set up and maintain a multi-carb setup. That's what 4 barrels are for.

 

Some think it's cool. Some think it provides better flow. I think it's a waste of money.

 

Multiple carbs are cool today. Yesteryear they were a necessity.

 

The car companies used multi carb setups on factory cars like J2 Olds and Tripower Pontiacs.... Duel quads were used on Cadillacs and Chryslers to back in the 50's...

 

P It is a proven fact that one four barrel on an FE engine makes more horsepower that 3X2s! I am planning on three duces for my ride! Why? Because I like them!





Bones

 

I'd like your post more than once if I could Boneyard. I have that same basic setup on my 63, have had for more years than I can count. Gas mileage sucks (what else would I expect) but it goes pretty good, runs well and looks great.

 

That’s exactly why I have been collecting for several years , trying to put together a 3x2 set up! I am slow , but I am planning a 462 with 3X2s and the long tube iron manifolds. Mostly to look like a hot rod! But I do hope it will run a little…. Also!






Bones

 

Because the hotrodder mantra has always been "if a little is good, too much is just right".

 

This link may prove interesting:

https://www.thecarburetorshop.com/Multiplecarburetion.htm

Jon

 

I've read that one before. Good useful info there.

 

I really need to add to that article.

Occasionally I read where multi-carb set-ups were necessary because there were no single carburetors that would flow sufficient air. This is totally wrong!

By 1921, Stromberg had a single barrel carb that flowed 450 CFM.

By 1929, both Holley and Stromberg had two barrel carburetors that flowed 900 CFM!

So how much CFM did the hopped-up Ford flathead require???

The real reason behind the hot rod multiple carb set-ups was cost. The larger carbs were expensive, and by the late 1930's, every junkyard had Stromberg EE-1's (the 97) in quantity, and dirt cheap.

During WWII, Stromberg tested a two-barrel that flowed more than 1200 CFM.

The carburetor companies would have been happy to supply the larger carburetors to anyone with money!

Jon

 

Because its the American way---big is good, bigger is better, too big is best. Would you rather look at a single 4 or 6/8 2's stacked on a log manifold sticking out of the hood?

 

Bones - if you like 3x2 on the FE, you would love 2x4

Jon

 

Exactly.

 

One carb isn't problematic enough for them so they need to add more.

 

8 holes coming in, 8 holes going up and down, 8 holes going out: what’s not to like.

 

Because multi carbs look cool!

 

If you have to ask, you won't get it.

 

Somebody needs to cancel your hot rod card !