Tri-Power Intakes - Identification
 

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.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...1.jpg~original

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

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

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...6.jpg~original

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.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...6.jpg~original

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

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

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.

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

1964, casting # 9775088

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

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...6.jpg~original

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

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

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...9.jpg~original

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

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

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...1.jpg~original

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

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.

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

1965, casting # 9778818

The bare intake weighs 34.80 pounds.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...9.jpg~original

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...1.jpg~original

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

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

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

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

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...1.jpg~original

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

1966, casting # 9782898

The bare intake weighs 38 pounds.

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

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...9.jpg~original

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

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

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

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

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

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...5.jpg~original

The only Pontiac aluminum Tri-Power
 

'61 SD Tri-Power

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.

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.

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

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

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

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)?

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).

Excellent thread; subscribed.

K

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

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

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?

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.

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.

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

Tri-Power Intake to fit a 428
 

A COUPLE QUESTIONS:

1) Will a tri-power intake fit a "428"? Was told it will. I believe there's an adaptor available for the water fitting? Correct?

2) If so, which part number(s) intakes will fit?

3) Will the 428 "Vally" pan work?

4) I have an "HEI" distributor, and understand it will not work, due to diameter of the cap. Supposedly there is an "HEI" distributor made that will work, since it has a smaller diameter cap. What/where can the distributor be found, bought, or acquired?

Thanks for the help, for am ol man trying to live out his dream!;)

Allan

#1) 65 and 66 factory tripower intakes will fit, as long as you have 65 - up heads. The timing cover needs to have the tripower "dimple" to make room for the water neck.
#2) b-man's posts at the beginning gives the part numbers you need.
#3) 428 valley pan will work.
#4) Someone else will need to chime in to answer, but yes there are small cap HEI distributors.
Good luck!

Thank you so much. Appreciate the help!
Allan

I have Tri-Power on both of our 428’s . The ‘65 and ‘66 intakes fit with no issues..

Ours both have ‘64 heads, so we used the 9775088 manifold, which fits on all ‘61 through ‘64 heads.

Valley pans that definitely work with Tri-Power intakes have the PCV at the rear, so a 1967 428 rear PVC valley pan is a go. When the location of the PCV valve was moved to the front beginning in 1968 the entire design of the pan changed.

Personally I’ve tried using a 1966 Tri-Power intake using a 1969 valley pan, it was a no go as the intake hit the pan near the front and couldn’t be bolted down to the heads. Others have said that combination will work but I honestly can’t see it being possible.

Valley pans:

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...d.php?t=799934

This a 71 455 with a front mounted PCV Valley Pan and a 65 TP Intake.
No problem or interference.

This is another 455 with a stock valley pan and front mounted PCV. With a 65 TP Intake that has no interference issues.

This is the same 1972 455/Factory valley pan- with a 66 TP Intake. No issues.

This is an aftermarket PY (US Made) first run 66 TP on the same 455.
This intake has the water cross over removed, so you can see the clearance.
It's about .090" (without the intake gaskets installed).
No interference.

Thanks so much for your responses.
Glad to know I can add the new "tri-power" setup to mine, with no real issues!
Now just patiently waiting!