Technical Opinions on the Offenhauser 3 Carb setup on a 170 Comet

I'm looking at a 63 Comet with a 170 and a Merc-o-Matic that's had the Offenhauser added (and exhaust split) but the current owner had issues setting it up and instead capped the outboard carbs (looks like all Holley 1908's).

I've got experience with setting up weird carbs (just came off of a project with a BMW 316 with the Pierburg single barrel marine carb) but I'm more interested in finding out what kind of a performance gain will be had from this setup.

Some more background - my first car back in the mid 90s was a 64.5 Mustang with a 200 and 3 speed so I'm not expecting any miracles, but being able to get out of its own way would be nice. Always wanted to build up a hot 6 and this was likely the way I was going to go but looking for opinions/options as well.

 

Check out the fordsix.com forum. Many on there have done it and I think there is dyno results as well.

 

Could be too much carb for an engine that small. May work better with 2 outboard carbs and the middle one blocked. Or, use progressive linkage.

By the way you could get the same thing by welding a couple of exhaust flanges to the stock intake.

 

I like Rusty's answer (above).
If running progressive, I would look at using the outer carbs as primaries (for best fuel distribution), with the center carb as secondary. Some sort of ignition upgrade is probably also in order. JMO.

 

You can make them run pretty good. I knew a guy way back that did the three carbs along with a healthy cam, headers, and a T10 4-speed that terrorized small-block V8s stoplight-to-stoplight. I don't recall exactly which carbs he used, but I think it was three OEM Falcon six units. Didn't sound like a six when idling...

 

The 170’s had a weak bottom end so don’t push it too much. The 200 six had seven main bearings and was indestructible.

 

Can't be repeated enough get rid of the load-o-matic especially when changing carburation

 

Not sure about the port configuration, progressive might not be an option.

Have never done this swap, so guessing:

Would think three very small carbs running solid linkage would be the answer. Possibly three Rochesters from a Corvair. Three Carter W-0 carbs from the old military Jeep would probably be the best, but they can be rather pricey. The Corvair carbs are not favorites of mine, but they are not expensive like the W-0's.

Ford used both the Autolite 1100 and Holley 1909 carbs on the 170. Would think three of either of these would be too much for the street (lower RPM) even if one could match three of them.

Jon.

 

Thanks for all of the feedback! You guys are great.

Doing some more research it looks like Offenhauser had developed this system specifically for the 170 and the 2-speed auto (link). I'm definitely looking to dump the auto in the future, but for now it looks like this should work with a set of Holley 1908's but will look at blocking off the center carb if things are still rough.

 

Load-O-Matic replacement ? See notes about fitment. https://www.skipwhiteperformance.co...-170-200-250-hei-distributor-8527-blue_89756/

 

Read the line about will not work with 1/4 oil pump drive his motor will require a custom pump drive or a later oil pump and drive

 

Simply use the later pump. No rigging needed

 

I

I was called a few years ago to look at a 66 mustang new long block no oil presser light working. A case of 1/4 pump drive 5/16 distributor and driven 8 miles

 

No.

Early Falcon sixes don't just have a smaller oil pump drive shaft.

They have a smaller distributor BORE.