I have a 292 with Edelbrock 357 tri-power manifold.  I have 3 Holley 94s that were rebuilt by Vintage Speed (Charlie Price).  He removed the idle circuits and the choke from the end carbs.  It runs fine on the center carb with the end carbs blocked.  I turned it over to a restoration shop who I asked to install the progressive linkage and get the end carbs functional.  Well, after 2 months and a $5000 bill they returned the car in the condition I gave it to them and they said it is impossible to get it to run right.  By the way, I don't know what they mean by "running right".

FYI I am handicapped and can do none of the work myself, but my son can change parts.  He is no carb expert.

Two questions:

1)  Anyone and expert on Holley/Stromburg carbs with some suggestions.

2)  Speedway Motors sell a replica set for $800.  Any opinions on how well these work.

P.S.  Don't tell me to just convert it to a modern 4bbl.  I had a Mummert manifold and Edelbrock 650 cfm 4bbl and it ran great.  I am old old old school and I insist on a tri-power set-up.  I sold the 4bbl and manifold.

When you say the carbs were blocked, I assume there was a plate under them and the linkage was not hooked up. ? Was the fuel connected?

Charlie’s got a pretty good reputation, I had one of his units 30 years ago.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

I understand the ‘WOW’ factor of the 3X2 set ups so no argument there.

I wouldn’t consider myself an expert on those 3X2 setups but I have tinkered with quite a few of them over the years.  Recently had to set one up to dyno test the new prototype Offenhauser three deuce intake and for that test, I used three Holley 94 carbs (model 2100’s).  For those carbs, I simply left the center carb pretty much stock with #51 jets and the power valve intact.  For the end carbs, I removed the power valves and upped the jetting to 55’s but left the idle circuits intact.  The idea behind leaving the idle circuits intact is so that the fuel does not stagnate in the bowls from disuse.  The engine idle speed is still controlled by the center carb with the throttle blades on the end carbs being completely closed in the idle position.  The idle mixture screws are about ½ turn out on each carb.  That 3X2 setup idles good and with the progressive linkage adjusted so that the end carburetors come in at approximately half throttle, accelerates under a load just fine without any issue.

Here are pictures of that setup as it ran about six weeks ago.
 

 

 

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

To answer the question about being blocked, yes, we fabricated plates to fir at the carb mounting surface.

The car was driven for hundreds of miles on the center carb only with my only complaint was very black tail pipe.  No black smoke but 14 mpg, so it was a little rich.  

Do you know what size jets you have in now? I bought an old offenhauser tri power at Carlisle years ago. It had .57 jets in all 3 carbs. My eyes would burn standing behind the truck. I now have .51 jets in all 3 carbs in an Edelbrock 354. I have a 283” 239. Works pretty good.

  Dennis in Lititz PA

Don't know the jet size but they are the size recommended by Charlie Price.  I will see if I can find a jet kit with multiple jet sizes some where on the internet.

Don't worry, it can be done, just takes a little tinkering. I run 3 94's on my 292 and it runs fine. I have 59 jets in the two end carbs and 57 in the center. All three still have the power valves and the the idle circuits but the two end carbs have the idle screws all the way in. Also running a progressive linkage.