Thread: FE tri-power

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Hey i am building up a a '68 390 FE and was wondering the horsepower differences between an edelbroke RPM intake, stock t-bird tri-power setup and a modified tri-power intake with the demon six shooter carburetors {do they even fit the ford intake?}. Also are the tri-power intakes as hard to tune as everyone says?

ok here is a websight about tri-power http://www.hptrends.com/ this is where i got my tri-power intake and carbs from. as far as the stock ford tri power there are 2 types ones for a tbird and ones for a galaxie. you will need the galaxie intake bc the motor in you car sits at an angle whereas the motor in a tbird sits level with that out of the way, i dont know very much about the barry grant six shooter im not even sure if they make it for the FE i think just small blocks. a properly tuned tri power setup can perform just as well (if not better) than a 4bbl and they look a lot cooler. but they are expensive. i have a 406 tri power that is laying down 400hp and 500ftlbs at the wheels. with all the technology in 4bbl intake and carbs it really is the better choice as far as price goes, but 3 deuces is so much cooler look around on that website and give the guy a call his name is Ken and he is a really nice guy and would be happy to answer any of your questions, i would reccomend buying from him he did a great job with mine and supplies complete tuning manuals with pictures its really easy to get the thing running with his book. they take a little longer to tune than a 4bbl but its not really that big of a deal anybody with half a brain and a vaccum gauge can figure it out. i personaly would stay away from barry grant they are over priced holleys. just get a holley.

"Way back when" !! I had a '68 390 Torino GT. The original Holley was a POS. I then put on a 3 bbl 950 cfm Holley which ran like a bear. Since I had a '63 406 Tri power setup, and since the engines are virtually the same I decided that this was the way to go - it sure was. I had to play with the carb jetting a bit, but it outperformed any othen carb that I tried - by far. The only problems that I had were power valves - but since they were only about a buck apiece then, bought several at a time. Today, all you need is the $12 check valve mod or one of their purportedly blow proof pieces.

There's some pretty good information so far.

As far as Dyno results, there a guy over on the FE site that did a bunch of intake comparison testing over on the FE site and I think he tested the Tri-power and a bunch of other intakes. I couldn;t find the results right off, but there somewhere around page 170 and done in the middle of june last year.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/74182/

If I remember correctly most single 4 BBLs flat out performed the Tri-Power intakes.

tyler is correct there is a difference between the T Bird and the 406 Galaxie intake. The 406 intake has the carb bases higher in the rear than the front to level the carbs (and visually make the engine look more level). The intake is also a bit more of a high rise than the T Bird design and made a bit more power. I'm not sure what body your putting the engine in, but depending on the year you may not have the severe engine angle that the 60-64 full size car had and the carbs may sit more level on the T Bird intake than they do on the earlier full size cars. Regardless, it may take a bit of float level changes to in the carbs, but the T Bird intake will work fine in a full size car(even in a 64 Galaxie like I building).

At this point the T Bird intakes are a bit more rare (as there were apparently fewer made) and are a very desirable option on 61-3 Birds, so you might be able to work a swap of some kind for a 406 intake.

As far as carbs, Not sure of the bases used on the Barry Grany units, but if they are the same as Rochesters, the Intake can be modified to accept them (basically redrilling the intake and a bit of port matching if desired.

The easy way (but not cheap) would be to buy the re-pop units listed above .

A final option if your good with carbs would be to build your own like I did for my FE (Rochesters).

http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26886

There was a guy on another forum who had the 3x2 BG setup. He's having major issues and lots of modifications. One being the BG carbs butterflies being a larger dia than the holes in the stock 3x2 intake. You need to open up the holes in the intake or run big ass spacers!! LOL! He was also having problems with the linkage at WOT. Being BG does not cast a 3x2 FE intake the kit as sold is not very well designed. But in time i'm sure it'll all get sorted. All in fun right? The factory rating of the 4v 406 was 385hp vs the 6v 406 at 405hp. Carls Ford Parts sells a brandy new re issue set of 3x2 Holleys. He was able to get Holley to do these and other 2x4 oem carb sets from the original tooling. He sells everything from parts to complete setups. www.carlsfordparts.com
As Tyler mentioned HP Trends is also very good to deal with. I've run a few 3x2's and loved them. Nice choice!!

G.

so are you still wanting to run the tri power? i would i havent met a single person who doesnt think its cool

Originally Posted by tyler

so are you still wanting to run the tri power? i would i havent met a single person who doesnt think its cool

They are a lot cooler then a common everyday 4bbl.4 bbl carbs and Chevy engines are like belly buttons - everybody with a sreet rod/machine has one or the other or in many cases, both. But how many tri power setups do you see !!!???

hey thanks for all the help, are the edelbroke aluminum heads for the 390 are they low, medium or high rise. Also are the tri-power intakes low, medium or high rise? The car I am putting this in is a 67' ranchero. lastly what range would the horsepower and torque be, the engine has the stock bottom end, edelbroke heads, edelbroke RPM cam and soon the ford tri-power intake?

You may want to check the port match. The tri power will be the early
tall port and I've been told Edelbrock heads a med riser (more rectangle)
port. The tri power is low riser style.
Good Luck