Tri-Power Valley Pans - Specific to Tri-Power or Not?
 

Not.

Absolutely NOT.

The same valley pans were used on ALL engines of that particular model year, whether it was a lowly 2-barrel engine, a 4-barrel engine or a Tri-Power engine.

Yes, all Tri-Power valley pans had the PCV port located at the rear of the pan. Tri-Power was offered from 1957 through 1966, consequently ALL engines built during those years had the PCV in the rear no matter what carburetor setup was ordered.

Technically you could say that any pan with a rear PCV location is a Tri-Power pan. But it's also technically a 2-barrel pan or a 4-barrel pan as well.

The pans with a rear PCV location are really nothing special, just an older style harkening back to the days when there were no PCV valves in use. Road draft tubes were used back then, up until 1963 if I'm not mistaken.

Road draft tube on a 1959 389.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...2.jpg~original

The last year that valley pans used the rear PCV location was 1967, and as we know Tri-Power was no longer available for 1967 models.

Here's a 1964 valley pan that I personally pulled from a 2-barrel 326 Le Mans in the boneyard.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...8.jpg~original

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...0.jpg~original

That 2-barrel 326 pan just so happens to fit perfectly under the 1964 Tri-Power intake on this 421 HO. Because it's not a 2-barrel pan or a 4-barrel pan or a Tri-Power pan specifically, it's simply a 1964 valley pan.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...3.jpg~original

Another example, a 1959 2-barrel 389.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...3.jpg~original

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...0.jpg~original

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...7.jpg~original

Fancy that, a 1959 Tri-Power intake fits perfectly.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...0.jpg~original

Here's a 1972 valley pan with the front PCV location, 1968 - 1972 pans all looked like this one. I tried using a 1969 pan at one time with a 1966 Tri-Power intake and it wouldn't sit down on the heads, due to the forward one of the two 'pyramids' interfering with the bottom of the intake. Of course the 1968 and later pans were never intended for use with Tri-Power.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...4.jpg~original

Thanks, I just didn't want to be rude.

For anyone with an older car that has a draft tube if you want to remove the tube and collar on the valley pan the rubber grommet for the pcv valve fits right in. That way you can do away with the smelly tube and run a pcv valve. If the Pontiac pcv wont clear the intake manifold a Mopar 318 V8 from the 1980's pcv works well. Drill and tap the intake for the vacuum fittings used on the 389 engine. Used that set up on my 1955 Chieftain for 20 years.

Good info from B-man. One addition--some valley pans with rear PCV--early to mid '60's had irregular edges to accommodate the bulges at the intake ports. I have several of these pans, but can't confirm which years or engines they were used on .Tripower or not, the bulges exist on the intake manifold at the ports.

One other comment. Back in the day, I put Tripower on my '69 Catalina Safari wagon that was a single two barrel 400 from the factory. The only thing needed was a '66 Tripower manifold/carbs and a gasket set. The original valley pan cleared the manifold. Maybe the '64, '65 and '66 intakes were high enough to clear the "pyramids." I also had no problem with the waterneck clearing the dimple on the timing cover.

It was amusing to see the response when station attendants checked the oil! Lots of comments.

This was what I put in my '69 Catalina wagon.

My '69 Catalina Safari was green, too! What a coincidence. I drove it with that Tripower on it for at least four years as my daily driver. I towed my GTO to Great Lakes Dragway with that car. Sure wish there were pictures of mine.

Good memories, unbelievable coincidence!

The engine was a 0.030" over 428 with cast 31 heads and a '65 tri-power. It was a daily driver for years until my son had a blow out in it, ran it into the side of a mountain and totaled it.

Mine was a factory 2 bbl. 400. Not real peppy.

Mine started out as a factory two barrel 400.

Just want to add to this thread a couple pics of different style valley pans that have the PCV in the front. I have no idea if they are different for a reason, but I do know they both fit my 455. I would like to find a good valley pan with the PCV in the back just so I don't have the hose running to the front. All I've seen made by the aftermarket companies is front pcv pans.