Carburetors for V8 engines

[Earl Marischal]

Something I've never really understood is using 3 (or sometimes 6) carburetors on a V8 engine. Surely 2, 4 or even 8 would produce a more even fuel flow?

Can anyone explain it, simply?

cheers

steve

[Fat Brian]

Well, each barrel of a carb doesn't feed only one cylinder, early V8s ran one a single barrel carb. The area of an intake manifold under the carb is open and the runner to each cylinder connects to this common area, think of a bucket with as many holes as there are cylinders around the bottom. The vacuum of the engine draws in the air/fuel mixture through however many carbs there are up there and into the common area where it's drawn into the individual cylinders on their intake stroke.

Here is a diagram that kind of shows how all the intake runners come together under the carb.

[tbill]

Also keep in mind, depending on the set up, not all carbs are contributing fuel all the time.

[oldscool]

Many times it was just for the wow factor.

[Greg Myers]

Originally (back in the day) it was simply a matter of limited air flow on the carburetors available. Thus the old Hot Rod Adage:

" If some is good, and more is better, then Too much should be just right."

[Greg Myers]

on most engines a "progressive linkage" was used, allowing the center carb to be used around town. Mash the pedal and the other two kick in and away you go. Gas mileage and performance. This was probably the most common set up, allowing for ease of street operation.

Edited April 25, 2015 by Greg Myers

[Greg Myers]

and, "back in the day" plenty to chose from.

[58 Impala]

and, "back in the day" plenty to chose from.

Wow, what a collection of flathead manifolds!

[Carmak]

Greg nailed it! Good performance with good drivability and mileage.

I have had a couple Pontiac tri-powers as daily drivers. Tiny center carb has great response and gets good mileage. Step into it harder and you open up the larger outside cabs and away we go.

Notice that most of the mainstream dual quad setups on factory cars in the mid 50's were replaced with tri-power setups by the late 50's and used into the late 60's/early 70's.

[Greg Myers]

I ran a three two barrel set up on a '60 El Camino 283 four speed for quite awhile. I liked it much better than several four barrel set ups i first had. One thing i recall was the common myth : " They're hard to synchronize." There is nothing to synchronize. It's just a matter of deciding when you want the outer two carbs to "Kick" in.

Edited April 26, 2015 by Greg Myers

[dartman]

I have a six pak on the 340 in my 65 dart.It has the progressive linkage and runs off the center carb and gets good mileage

until you put your foot into it and when you do,the mileage is well.....not so good LOL.

[Greg Myers]

Something I've never really understood is using 3 (or sometimes 6) carburetors on a V8 engine. Surely 2, 4 or even 8 would produce a more even fuel flow?

Can anyone explain it, simply?

cheers

steve

Like this ? Ol' John Milner ran one of these on his puke yellow coupe. They are more of a "direct port induction and would certainly require some "synchronization".

Edited April 26, 2015 by Greg Myers

[Greg Myers]

You can see the carb flanges are located right over the intake ports.

Edited April 26, 2015 by Greg Myers

[Greg Myers]

Now yer talkin' one barrel fer each intake hole !

[Greg Myers]

and you can lay 'em down with the right selection of carbs.

[Greg Myers]

and , they just look good.

Edited April 26, 2015 by Greg Myers

[Lovefordgalaxie]

A Autolite 4100 is all you need for a carburetor.

1.08, 1.12, or the rare 1.19, they are all the very best fuel delivery ever conceived.

And remember:

Carburetor plus points =

Anything electronic on a car =

[Zarana-X]

My understanding, is carbs work like a toilet. Flush it, and the water goes down. But, you can also flush it and pour an extra bucket of water in it at the same time, and it still goes down.

What I never got though, was 10 carbs on a V8, like on the Munster Coach.

[Greg Myers]

One must not forget : " If some is good, and more is better, then Too much should be just right."

Edited April 26, 2015 by Greg Myers

[Greg Myers]

Of course, sometimes one is all one needs.

[Greg Myers]

But, then again.

[Earl Marischal]

Thanks guys. I think I get it now

steve