[b-man]

Post your pictures of various year Pontiac factory Tri-Power intakes, to help aid in identifying them for those who are looking to put together a Tri-Power setup. Also post pictures of the correct thermostat housing for each intake if you can.

Hopefully we can end up covering all of them from 1957 through 1966.

1959, casting # 532422

The bare intake weighs 39.45 pounds.









Correct cast iron thermostat housing for 1959, with built-in engine lifting loop. As you might imagine it's quite heavy, weighing in at 2.85 pounds.







Here you can see how the lifting loop configuration of the thermostat housing was copied in .150" to .175" thick stamped steel for later engines, attaching to one of the studs that mount the timing cover.

[b-man]

1964, casting # 9775088

The bare intake weighs 46.25 pounds. I'm betting this one's the heaviest of the factory Tri-Power intakes.









Correct cast iron thermostat housing for 1964. It weighs in at 2.00 pounds.







Comparison of 1964 Tri-Power thermostat housings, OEM and repro. The upper one with the raised pad under the casting number is the original piece. The repro piece is actually about 1/4" shorter (in overall height when installed) than the original.

[b-man]

1965, casting # 9778818

The bare intake weighs 34.80 pounds.









Correct cast iron thermostat housing for 1965. It's a lightweight at 1.40 pounds.

[b-man]

1966, casting # 9782898

The bare intake weighs 38 pounds.









Correct cast iron thermostat housing for 1966. It's a lightweight at only 1.50 pounds.

[Jack Gifford]

'61 SD Tri-Power

[Carmine]

Hi everyone. I have a tripower intake with carbs that I have owned for about 30 years or so. My intent was to rebuild it so I took the carbs off and apart, putting them in separate coffee cans. Never went any further with it. I knew at one time what that part number/date code was, but I forget. I can always get it again, but I think it was a very early 60's manifold. If I'm correct, would this fit on a '57 engine?? If not, what years would if someone knows?? Thank you, Carmine.

[Sirrotica]

Pontiac first gen heads and intake are 55-60, 1961 will not fit the earlier heads. 61-64 are the second gen, and 65-79 are the third gen.

[tom s]

Brad,the 61SD heads are a one year bastard head.It uses the 55-60 water pattern but the intakes made for them use the X over water donut so require a 61 timing cover.Gets a little confusing with the heads and intakes when they come up for sale.61SD tripower and 4 bbl intakes wont fit pass car 61 heads.Tom

[Sirrotica]

The chances of him having a 61 SD intake is slim, but I was speaking about daily driver applications, showroom stuff, is all.

[Carmine]

Originally Posted by Sirrotica

Pontiac first gen heads and intake are 55-60, 1961 will not fit the earlier heads. 61-64 are the second gen, and 65-79 are the third gen.

Great info. Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you very much, Carmine.

[1969GiPper]

Is it possible for a 65 intake to only have one threaded hole in the coolant passageway for the coolant temp sender/sensor on the driver’s side and none on the passenger side (like a 66 manifold)?

[Dick Boneske]

Added info on the '64 Tripower intake manifold. Early '64 manifolds and those manufactured after sometime in February, 1964 have the same part number, 9775088, but the later manifolds have ribs on top of the water passage and on the entire bottom area. I believe these were added to increase the strength of the casting to avoid cracking.

Note that the big cars used the heater hose outlet as shown on the first picture. GTO's used a 45 degree fitting to tilt the heater hose outlet.

The first three pictures are of a '64 manifold cast date A284 (January 28, 1964). The second two pictures are of a later manifold, casting date G154 (July 15, 1964).

[Keith Seymore]

Excellent thread; subscribed.

K

[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by 1969GiPper

Is it possible for a 65 intake to only have one threaded hole in the coolant passageway for the coolant temp sender/sensor on the driver’s side and none on the passenger side (like a 66 manifold)?

Yes. In fact, I never noticed that the one Bart posted photos of above had two.
What's up with that guys?

[Carmine]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Excellent thread; subscribed.

K

Ditto. A very nice thread by b-man. Alot of info there. Thanks for sharing that, Carmine.

[hobbygto65]

I noticed that some 65 manifolds have a round boss that sticks up right behind the thermostat housing, and some don't. Is this a way of telling big car tripower from GTOs?

[Dick Boneske]

Each year Pontiac Tri-Power intakes are identical for big cars & GTO’s. The boss you speak of is on ‘all 65 & ‘66 Tri-Power intakes.

[carbking]

B-Man just saw this thread, not sure if I have any pictures of bare intakes, will check, but here is a listing of casting numbers:

https://www.thecarburetorshop.com/Mu...bmanifolds.htm

At one time or another, I have had at least one of all of the Pontiac production tripower intakes.

Jon.

[hobbygto65]

If your 62 has a newer motor it won't fit.