I've been told that I can run only the middle carburetor and don't even have to have the "proper" 3/2 linkage.Saving on rebuild and linkage cost. I've also been told that I must have all 3 carbs rebuilt and must have proper linkage for all 3. Whats the concensus here?
Depending on your intake yes you can run on a single two barrel. You remove the ****er flies from the out board carbs and put a piece of sheet metal between the carb and the intake. then you d fab up dummy linkage and fuel lines to complete the setup, that way it looks like you are running a true tri-power. The clincher on the deal is that your intake has to have a common plenum for all 8 cylinders. I can't think of any off the top of my head but there were intakes that had 3 separate plenums.
What is it exactly....the engine style of build ? Some guys will run the center carb', and block off the ends.....I guess that's cool....if you have a no suds small block waiting on a two barrel propeller of sorts......me ? I like a high crust whiny small block myself. You don't have to go way over the top to build an engine that would work well on a "progressive" styled linkage set-up. Run on center....to dump the ends when rev-ved. My father had an 11.5:1 choppy cammed small block that fit that description well.....although one could put the same on a lower compression....not so rev-vy cam profiled build.....and have it work just as well. All in carb' tuning. Yes on rebuilds for three carbs'(at least leak down test), yes on 2 stage linkage setup needing perfected. While I understand the center run only/ends blocked off crowd......I just don't comprehend that kind of think tank myself. Guess if it's all about dollars and sense, I would just sell the setup being me. It's almost like the faux' Olds valve covers on a small block Chevy'. I don't get it. BUT.... IT CAN BE DONE, YES indeedy.
You can also roll up a sock put it in your speedo and walk around the swimming pool a few times. I considered building a fake 6 pack for my model A, I modified a 2bbl manifold to look like a 6 and bolted the carbs on, then realized faking things is just silly IMO. Having a waorking 6 pack setup does not mean you need to drive it like a 6 pack all the time. I ended up buying a used manifold and made my own linkage and fuel inlet setup. I am very happy with it.
if you can keep your foot out of it the tri power runs on the single most of the time set up progressive, not unlike a four barrel carb two barrel until you punch it. you don't have to go crazy on the motor to run tri power but it helps the ego when ya go sideways on shifts,opps letting the 2nd childhood kick in.
I just bought a 3X2 setup off of C/L that had plates under the end carbs. Will give them to you if I can stay awhile ( after the Daytona 500) - Minnesota is damn cold already and I need a retirement spot. The carb kits are $16 each with pumps and needle & seats on Amazon.
My bone-stock y-block runs fine with all three using progressive linkage... Personally, I figured it was about as much work to make it run off just one as to use all three and not fake it.
On the 350 in my Model A sedan, I rebuilt all three carbs and mounted them up with plates under the end carbs. I fired the motor, did the cam break in and initial drive/debug with a single two barrel, then later took out the plates and tuned it up to run on all three with progressive linkage. No reason you couldn't start out with all three operable, I just thought I'd eliminate a couple of unknowns in the beginning. Now you should stick your foot in it regularly to get fresh gas to the end carbs,.... you know, just so the gas doesn't go stale.
I think it is a financial decision on the part of oldfart. At least that is what I understood when I read it. I know that I am too old to do things like this any more but I have half done things until I felt I could loose the cash to finish them. It is not always a thing about building a sheep in wolf's clothing, sometimes it is get it on the road and drive it until the rest of the cash falls into place thing. Just throwin that out there, not judging anyone's bank account or their ideas.
oldfart, just remember when you put that rolled up sock in your Speedo it goes in the front not the back.
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