What 1966 GTOs did NOT have tri-power?
 

The ad for this car:

https://www.harwoodmotors.com/vehicl...ls.php?id=1058

says when the car was judged, it was penalized for having a tri-power. Specifically, it says:

" When it was first completed, it carried a factory Tri-Power setup which was incorrect for this particular car. After being docked those points in competition, it was retrofitted with a correct intake manifold and Rochester QuadraJet 4-barrel, which it wears today (the Tri-Power setup is available to the car’s next owner, please contact us for details)."

So, there were 66 GTO's that did not have a tri-power carb.?

The standard 66 GTO engine was a 389 four barrel carb, the tripower being an option through 1966. I think the confusion lies in the sellers description “When it was first completed, it carried a factory Tri-Power setup which was incorrect for this particular car…" The “first completed” refers to the completion of the restoration when a correct year tripower was added. The car was PHS documented which apparently indicated that the car was a four barrel car that’s why the intake was retro fitted.

Hilarious !

I thought ALL GTOs came with a Tri-Power

Just about 90% of these 64-66 cars that I’ve seen at previous shows and the internet examples have 3x2s.

Yup, at least they got it corrected by installing a Quadrajet.

I could be wrong but wasn’t the AFB carb used in 1966 Pontiacs and the “first” usage of the Quadrajet on a Pontiac not until 1967? If that’s correct then having a quadrajet on a 1966 GTO would not be factory correct.

You are correct, 64-66 4bbls are not Q-Jets, the only 66 Pontiac's with a Q-jet would be Lemans or Tempest Sprints.

Good information to know, thank you! To clarify, the AFB carburetor was a Carter, correct?

/\ yes.

Just kidding guys ^^^^^.

It’s just another example of how misinformed these Specialty car people are.

64-66 GTOs that were built with the 4bbl. carburetor used the Carter AFB.

Chris

So for this particular 1966 GTO to be factory correct in needs to have a 1966 389 four barrel (AFB) intake manifold and the correct 1966 AFB carb. Not a 1967 or newer intake manifold and quadrajet carb.

I agree, I tend to see a fair number of listings containing incorrect info...Good catch on the AFB/Quadrajet carb...I missed that...:D

Yeah, if you go by what you see at shows, you'd think that all '66s were born with Tri-Power, rally wheels and gauges, reclining seats with headrests, and only came in painted Montero Red. The reality is somewhat different.

Anyone know the actual numbers for how many '66 GTOs were factory equipped with Tri-Power? I'd imagine that it's very much the minority.

About one in every five. 19k out of 96k.
65 was one in every four, 20k out of 75k.

66 3x2
 

Mr. 242177P nailed it.

1966 factory equipped Tri-power = 19,302.

Oh, and the car in question doesn't have a Q-Jet, pictures tell a different story. And those aren't Firestone Wide Ovals either, they're Custom Classic Wide Tracs. Looking at the GTOAA's judging, that car was a lot closer to Bronze than it ever was to Gold. That writer doesn't have a clue.

Math says... 19.91%

Not true! Of course I'm looking at a technical loophole.
We built some not-quite-a-Pontiac Pontiacs up here... :canada:

Ahhh....I was going to jump down your throat, Chris! I agree that the article writers are usually mis-informed on these old cars. As for how many tripower GTO's, it seems like 90% of the ones I see are 'dealer added tripower'!! Kind of like every '69-'72 El Camino I've seen for the past 20 years is an SS model......LOL...

You’d be surprised how many people think that all GTOs came with a 4-speed and Tri-Power.

1966 Lemans, The GTO finally figured it out in 1967 ;)
https://live.staticflickr.com/4731/2...d37d393e_b.jpg

242177P...Was the GTO sold in Canada sold with a small block Chevy?

Nope. There was a Beaumont (essentially a Chevelle with Pontiac styling cues) and the GTO.

So this car:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/353077192807

is a 1966 with a 400 and tri-power.

From what you said, the 66 only came in a 389, and would the tri-power set up for a 400 be different than a 389 (different intake, etc.)?:noidea:

400 never had a Tri-Power and first year for the 400 was 1967 in a GTO.

The listing clearly states that the engine is a later model 400.

A 389 tripower (TP) can be used on any size engine (I think the 301 may be an exception) as long as it matches the heads; 64 and earlier TP must be used with 64 and earlier heads and the 65 & 66 TP is used with 65 and later heads. TP was also used on the 421. The TP option ended at the end of the 66 model year so there is no “400 TP”, just bolt-on retro fits.

I suggest you do a search for Pontiac TPs to answer your questions. There are numerous sites that detail various years TPs and their applications and differences.

As mentioned 1967 was the first year of the 400 - which was essentially an update on the 389 (bore increased);

Also at that time GM issued a decree that banned multiple carburetion for the 1967 model year on anything except a Corvette.

I seemed to recall something changed with the intakes right around this time, and a quick google search showed that the intake manifold bolting pattern changed for 1965, so any 1965-1966 Tri-power intake manifold should be able to be made to work with any 1965 & later heads.

The bigger change in top ends was the combustion chamber design which changed in 1967 - the early 1967 & older used a closed chamber design, while late 1967 and newer went with an open chamber design.

At least the seller was honest about the engine size - because externally they are virtually identical - unless you know what to look for.

I would suspect that most people restoring a pre-1967 GTO would opt for tri power, because it was proven to make more power than the AFB that would otherwise be there... and come on, they look cool ;)

A quick education when looking at Pontiac Engine blocks.

389 = two freeze plugs on each side of block.

400 = three freeze plugs on each side.

Chris.

Does anyone know on what date that the last tripower GTO rolled off the line? I've read that tripower was discontinued halfway thru the '66 model year, but never saw a specific date.

/\ I'm not sure where that would have come from;
the GM mandate against multiple carburetion didn't take effect till the 1967 model year;
And assuming that the 1967 model year was like others after it, would mean it actually started around Aug/Sept 1966;
So if the model year is Sept through to July, that means the halfway point for the 1966 model year would have been somewhere areound February 1966.

Tri-Powers go very late into 66
 

I have several folders of Original Survivors factory equipped with the 3x2s well into July of 1966.

Beautiful sprint Jeff! , I found what I believe is a factory air cleaner to a 66 sprint, it has a longer throat to the carb then an AFB has, Jeff what is it worth ? It’s not mint, but not Junk either, thanks mike