Tri-Power Tech 57-66 Tri-Power Talk

          
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 06-22-2024, 03:01 PM
carcrazy carcrazy is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 2,073
Default New engine, tripower changes?????

Current engine is 400 cubic inches about 350 horsepower and has a 1962 tripower. It is a 4 speed car with 3.42 gears. The combination seems to be dialed in pretty good at this point. New engine will be installed later summer/early fall. It is a properly coded 11B 62 389 than now has 459 cubic inches. Hydraulic roller cam and in the 500 horsepower range. It has the KRE d port heads and 10.2 compression ratio. I haven't decided on the intake but will likely use a 65 intake for the newer bolt pattern and keep the existing carbs. This should allow me to use the proper 62 tri power air clearer.... instead of the 3 separate air cleaners. The other option would be to use the KRE tri power intake setup for the smaller center carb however I have no idea if tri power air cleaner will fit this combination. In any event, I don't know anything about the current tri power setup other than it works good. If I go with the a 65 intake what changes (if any) should I anticipate making?

__________________
My money talks to me-it usually says goodbye!
  #2  
Old 06-25-2024, 08:02 AM
Alen More Alen More is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2024
Posts: 1
Smile

That sounds like a fantastic build! If you go with the '65 intake, ensure your existing carbs fit properly, and verify if the '62 tri-power air cleaner has enough clearance with the KRE heads and increased displacement. You may need to tweak the linkage, fuel lines, and possibly retune the carbs for optimal performance. Additionally, check that your fuel pump and cooling system can handle the increased demands of the more powerful engine. Overall, the '65 intake should work well with some adjustments. Good luck with your project!

  #3  
Old 06-25-2024, 02:15 PM
Dick Boneske's Avatar
Dick Boneske Dick Boneske is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Winneconne, Wisconsin
Posts: 5,504
Default

If your Tri-Power ran well with the 400 engine, but you're going to 459 cubic inches and a healthy hydraulic roller, the carbs need to be calibrated to work with that combo. If you provide cam specs, I can guide you through carb calibration, or you can send me the carbs and I'll do the calibration in my shop.

Basicallly , the changes needed are---idle tubes enlarged from .032" now to about .046". Idle bypass restrictors (stock is .043" or .046") to be enlarged to about .052". Center carb jets about .063" End carb jets .071" or .073". Throttle base idle adj. holes enlarged to .078". If the cam is fairly radical, the center carb throttle plates need to have holes to allow idle position to be proper for idle circuit.

Send me the cam specs, and we'll zero in on exact changes needed.

__________________
BONESTOCK GOATS

'64 GTO Tripower Hardtop (Wife's Car)
'64 GTO Tripower Post Coupe (My Car)
'99 Bonneville SE Sedan
  #4  
Old 06-25-2024, 03:50 PM
Kenth's Avatar
Kenth Kenth is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The Kingdom of Sweden
Posts: 6,097
Default

Dick, .046" idle tubes? I´m sure its a typo and you ment .036".

JMHO

__________________
1966 GTO Tri-Power
1970 GTO TheJudge
http://www.poci.org/
http://gtoaa.org/
  #5  
Old 06-25-2024, 08:30 PM
carcrazy carcrazy is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 2,073
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dick Boneske View Post
If your Tri-Power ran well with the 400 engine, but you're going to 459 cubic inches and a healthy hydraulic roller, the carbs need to be calibrated to work with that combo. If you provide cam specs, I can guide you through carb calibration, or you can send me the carbs and I'll do the calibration in my shop.

Basicallly , the changes needed are---idle tubes enlarged from .032" now to about .046". Idle bypass restrictors (stock is .043" or .046") to be enlarged to about .052". Center carb jets about .063" End carb jets .071" or .073". Throttle base idle adj. holes enlarged to .078". If the cam is fairly radical, the center carb throttle plates need to have holes to allow idle position to be proper for idle circuit.

Send me the cam specs, and we'll zero in on exact changes needed.
Thanks for the info. I may just send them to you after I do a trial fit. Picking up the engine some time this week. Still haven't decided on the KRE intake or 65. Trying to keep it on the stealthy side but would probably pick up a few horses with the KRE intake plus drop quite a bit of weight.

__________________
My money talks to me-it usually says goodbye!
  #6  
Old 06-25-2024, 08:32 PM
carcrazy carcrazy is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 2,073
Default

Am hoping the 62 air cleaner works....got a lot invested in it....lol!

__________________
My money talks to me-it usually says goodbye!
  #7  
Old 06-25-2024, 10:07 PM
b-man's Avatar
b-man b-man is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Sunny So Cal
Posts: 17,616
Default

You should call KRE and ask if the carb spacing is the same as a factory Tri-Power.

Would make a lot more sense if it did for the Rochester style top so reproduction linkage and fuel lines could be utilized.

With the 1965 intake your 1962 big car air cleaner fitting is a slam dunk.

__________________
1964 Tempest Coupe LS3/4L70E/3.42
1964 Le Mans Convertible 421 HO/TH350/3.08
2002 WS6 Convertible LS1/4L60E/3.23
1966 VW Type 2 Single Cab Pickup 140hp 2276
1956 VW Type 2 Panel Van 36hp 1200
1957 VW Type 1 Beetle 180hp 2276
  #8  
Old 06-25-2024, 10:23 PM
65 Lamnas's Avatar
65 Lamnas 65 Lamnas is offline
Senior Chief
 
Join Date: Mar 2023
Location: Pontiac, IL
Posts: 448
Default

The spacing of the carbs is the same. Wasson and I fitted up some modified Rochester carbs to one about a year ago for some dyno testing at KRE. We were also concerned with stock linkage and fuel line fitment in case the spacing was changed. Turns out Jeff and company had already taken all that into account and the factory spacing was retained.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_6425.jpg
Views:	1100
Size:	65.5 KB
ID:	635925  

  #9  
Old 06-26-2024, 12:37 PM
carcrazy carcrazy is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 2,073
Default

Good news about the spacing being confirmed. Jeff told me he thought it was spot on. Makes the decision easy.

__________________
My money talks to me-it usually says goodbye!
  #10  
Old 06-27-2024, 09:51 AM
Dick Boneske's Avatar
Dick Boneske Dick Boneske is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Winneconne, Wisconsin
Posts: 5,504
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenth View Post
Dick, .046" idle tubes? I´m sure its a typo and you ment .036".

JMHO
The OP noted his engine will have a hydraulic roller cam and 459 cubic inches. He's aiming for 500 hp, which means the cam will be fairly radical.

I've restored Tri-Powers on many Pontiac engines. Very few owners retain the factory cams, which changes the requirements for the idle circuit, jetting, and power valve. In this case, the cubic inches will grow from 389 to 459, which also changes the carburetor calibration.

The numbers I posted for idle tubes, idle bypass restrictors, throttle base hole size are not typos. These numbers are based on experience, not conjecture.

__________________
BONESTOCK GOATS

'64 GTO Tripower Hardtop (Wife's Car)
'64 GTO Tripower Post Coupe (My Car)
'99 Bonneville SE Sedan
  #11  
Old 07-03-2024, 09:28 AM
mike w mike w is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 109
Default KRE intake

Quote:
Originally Posted by carcrazy View Post
Current engine is 400 cubic inches about 350 horsepower and has a 1962 tripower. It is a 4 speed car with 3.42 gears. The combination seems to be dialed in pretty good at this point. New engine will be installed later summer/early fall. It is a properly coded 11B 62 389 than now has 459 cubic inches. Hydraulic roller cam and in the 500 horsepower range. It has the KRE d port heads and 10.2 compression ratio. I haven't decided on the intake but will likely use a 65 intake for the newer bolt pattern and keep the existing carbs. This should allow me to use the proper 62 tri power air clearer.... instead of the 3 separate air cleaners. The other option would be to use the KRE tri power intake setup for the smaller center carb however I have no idea if tri power air cleaner will fit this combination. In any event, I don't know anything about the current tri power setup other than it works good. If I go with the a 65 intake what changes (if any) should I anticipate making?
I worked with Jeff at KRE and built modified carbs for the Rochester Dyno pull. I can be reached at 309-360-6385 Mike Wasson

  #12  
Old 03-10-2025, 10:44 AM
scott06 scott06 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 53
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dick Boneske View Post
If your Tri-Power ran well with the 400 engine, but you're going to 459 cubic inches and a healthy hydraulic roller, the carbs need to be calibrated to work with that combo. If you provide cam specs, I can guide you through carb calibration, or you can send me the carbs and I'll do the calibration in my shop.

Basicallly , the changes needed are---idle tubes enlarged from .032" now to about .046". Idle bypass restrictors (stock is .043" or .046") to be enlarged to about .052". Center carb jets about .063" End carb jets .071" or .073". Throttle base idle adj. holes enlarged to .078". If the cam is fairly radical, the center carb throttle plates need to have holes to allow idle position to be proper for idle circuit.

Send me the cam specs, and we'll zero in on exact changes needed.
Dick - can you please confirm what is meant by idle bypass restrictors? Is that up in the underside of venturi just outboard of the idle tubes? Where the idle fuel mix goes back down to feed the idle mix screws and ports in throttle plate?

I'm doing a 65 389 (.030) w 4.25" stoke for 447 cubes, stock 77 heads, Spotts HCP-01 cam (similar to summit 2802), stock 65 tripower, RA exhaust manifolds so pretty tame ...

thanks

  #13  
Old 03-10-2025, 01:17 PM
Kenth's Avatar
Kenth Kenth is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The Kingdom of Sweden
Posts: 6,097
Default

The fuel is pushed up through the idle tubes, turns up in the nozzle, mixes with air from the upper air bleeds and goes down through the channel restrictions (economizers) and mixes with additional air from the side air bleeds if applicable and then down to the lower air bleeds/transition circuit to low speed and finally down to the holes for the idle mixing screw tips.
Some units also has idle bypass air drilled in the throttleplates.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	2-Jet Idle fuel passage.jpg
Views:	148
Size:	91.9 KB
ID:	648716  

__________________
1966 GTO Tri-Power
1970 GTO TheJudge
http://www.poci.org/
http://gtoaa.org/
  #14  
Old 03-10-2025, 03:53 PM
scott06 scott06 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 53
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenth View Post
The fuel is pushed up through the idle tubes, turns up in the nozzle, mixes with air from the upper air bleeds and goes down through the channel restrictions (economizers) and mixes with additional air from the side air bleeds if applicable and then down to the lower air bleeds/transition circuit to low speed and finally down to the holes for the idle mixing screw tips.
Some units also has idle bypass air drilled in the throttleplates.
that's what I thought it was thanks

Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:15 PM.

 

About Us

The PY Online Forums is the largest online gathering of Pontiac enthusiasts anywhere in the world. Founded in 1991, it was also the first online forum for people to gather and talk about their Pontiacs. Since then, it has become the mecca of Pontiac technical data and knowledge that no other place can surpass.

 




Copyright © 2017