Tri power or lsx motor

I have a single card 4barrel 400 big block with a 4 spd manaul in the '66 pontiac tempest wagon. I thought about doing a tri power I have. It's a 1966 tri power pontiac. Needs rebuilt. Then I was thinking to do a lsx motor 6.0 with an 4l80e. I read a few things and hear ppl talk about tri power. Seems like fun to drive the wagon with a tri power. But also a fuel inj with an automatic is easy. Have any of you experince with a tri power??? If I do the setup for tri power, what is a good site to go get a rebuilt kit for the carbs?? Are they expensive? Just to see what your ideas and comments. Thanks.

 

Running tri-power just about requires someone who really knows what they're doing to get it dialed in, and can end up bringing on the anger and frustration if it's not right. But when it is right, man oh boy, is it fun! On the flip side of the coin, an LSX with a 4L80E not only brings the fun, it can be modded to bring the bigger fun, and you get the added advantage of better MPG with that EFI and extra OD gear on top of less unsprung weight. So if you decide to lower the car, you have less of a chance of bottoming out.

 

just my .02, i don't really know if the lsx + the overdrive will weigh less than the 400 and a 4 speed. OD trans are not lightweight units, plus you will have added fuel pumps wiring ,new fuel lines,computer's etc. .The swap is not just a plug and play whereas with a good carb guy the sixpack can be hooked up and running in a day. only thing you need to adapt would be the fuel line and throttle linkage . guess it's 6 of 1 ,half dozen of another

 

Actually, Pontiac tripower is almost idiot proof. The front and rear carbs are blanks and only the center one controls the idle. You run off the center carb until you punch it and both the others come in together. No fooling around with that progressive linkage crap. Because you are running off the center carb, your gas mileage will be that of a vehicle running a singe deuce. We used to get up to 24 mpg on a 65 GTO when driven conservatively.

 

I always consider driving an old car with old school tech part of the charm and adventure of owning and driving old cars. I would go with the tri power on you 400. (just a note don't refer to it as a Big Block or Small Block engine, if it is a Pontiac engine it is the same size block from 1955 to 1978 unless you are talking 301 or 265 77-81 engines. Pontiac purest just cringe when they hear Big Block 400)

Other than rebuilding, changing the throttle cable, and setting up the progressive linkage correctly, the only other thing you may need is a Timing cover. The 1965 to 1969 Timing covers have a dimple on the back side to clear the water neck of the tri-power intakes. The later timing covers do not have this dimple and can cause clearance issues, but I do know people who have ground off alittle metal from both the timing cover, and the water neck to make them work. You can see the dimple on the upper left of the timing cover on the left picture. Also note that there are water pump differences starting mid way thru the 1969 model year. The 2 covers in the picture actually require different water pumps. Cooling passage and bolt pattern differences. Kaufman Racing has new covers available with the dimple.

http://www.tinindianperformance.com/KRE aluminum Pontiac timing cover.htm



Here is a link to Wallace racing with a good explination of the different Pontiac Timing covers

http://www.wallaceracing.com/timing-cover-numbers.html

If you do decide to go with the LS engine, that 66 Tri Power if complete is worth quite a bit of $$$$ it has a larger center carb than the 57-65 tri powers and is highly sought after. Good luck and keep us informed on what you decide to do.

 

Yea I know how the tri power works. I've read about it. My father in law use to have a trans am with a tri power and he says it's a lot of fun he knows how to adjust them and get them right. I'm not expert on tunning carbs. I just know how to installed them. I've had a couple of 350 motor sbc in s10 blazers and trucks. I know how to do those. Just recently finish putting a ls motor into a s10 blazer pretty easy and yes a lot of work to change fuel line and wires. I've learned a lot of that ls motor. I thought about just do the tri power and see how much I like it and enjoy it while I still have the tri power instead of just letting it sit in garage thinking to sell it or not. The intake needs cleaning. It has a lot of dust. The 2 outside carb is still together and the center carb is taking apart but it doesn't seem like it's missing anything. Not screw together just sitting. Not sure if I have the linkage or just go ahead and buy a new one. I know the 66 tri power is woth a lot when u have cleaned up and ready to go lol. Also the center carb is worh more too because it has a choke, am I right? It'll be awhile till I decide what I'll do. I've been thinking like crazy for the wagon. I just got done with the s10 blazer and now I'm ready to get on the wagon. Mechanical pump went bad, brake booster went bad because the brake pedal goes to the floor but can stop if I move it around. Also trying to sell one of my trucks then I can use some money to get the tri power going. Thanks for the info guys.

 

I had a 327 in a 57 Chevy with triple carbs and progressive linkage. It was fun to drive. It would also out run my stock 77 Vette with 350. That's when GM decided a Corvette should run like gramma's Nova. Remember you can set the kick down wherever you want it.
Later I put a 327 and the tri power set up in a 1960 Austin Healy Sprite. Very responsive but couldn't really run it hard with the stock Sprite rear end.
To me a tri power set up is more for looks now days. The late model engine set up is for cruising and dependability.

 

These days, this is how I feel about carburetion versus fuel injection. I still have the desire to EFI the Ranchero, but lack of money stops that.

 

Son got a deal on a 383 stroker out of a junked Chevy van with a 1995 TBI. He put it in his 1985 longbed Chevy truck with a heavy 5-speed. Starts instantly and will pull a house. Even a new in tank pump fit right in. He tried an external fuel pump but they were all new junk. He gets in the mid 20's and 15 pulling a flat bed with a car or truck on it.

 

The cool factor is huge with a real Pontiac V8, especially with Tri-Power! You throw a LS motor in that car it's a giant yawn.

Yeah, yeah, I know the LS is a wonderful motor… leave 'em for the late models. A classic Pontiac deserves a Pontiac heart!

 

^^^^THIS!!!

It's a cool car. Don't put a belly-button motor in it.

 

I agree 100%

In a few years all of the L'S swaps will be a passing fad but the tri-power will remain cool.

 

I agree, but if it is a daily driven car it is hard to argue a LS engines combination of HP, MPG, & Reliability. If it is just a weekend Cruiser/Toy Traditional Pontiac Power all the way, and the Tri-power is just a Bonus.

My Wife is Pushing me to Buy a 67 Daimler 250 Sedan that she just Loves. I can get it for a decent Price, and if it was me driving it the little 2.5 Liter Hemi V-8 would stay, But I remember how she always forgets to set the choke on any of the Carb'd cars, then floods them out when they don't fire up right away. If I do buy the car for her this winter, I will make the British car purest Hate me by installing a LS engine with EFI, and replace the bad BW automatic with a 4L80. That way I know it will start every day, and return 25+ MPG Highway. But the Daimler V-8 will stay so it can be returned to stock if anyone in the future wants to do so.

So my heart says one thing, and my common sense says another. And this is coming from a Pontiac Die Hard!!!!!

 

"You, Sir, are born-again hard."

 

Yea it's not a daily. Just weekend car. I already planning to do the tri power. I'll keep u guys update later when I can and have some pics for y'ally'all