The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop few performance product questions

Eventually i would like to "rod out" my wifes "50 3600. It has the 235, and i would like to keep it. Cuz you just cant kill a stovebolt, and i've seen enough 350/350 combos.

So whats better 3x1 carbs, or 2xi carbs? I have 2 Rochester carbs now that are good, i also have a Carter. Im sure i can find more of both. Whats the better choice? Whats the difference between an Offy intake, an Edlebrock intake, and a cheap Speedway intake? Is it just the name? Headers fall into the same category i guess. Do you have to run dual headers when you run a multi-carb set up? Im sure they go hand and hand anyway. (side note: my uncle made his own split header for his '65 BelAir out of the factory manifold) Which would you choose if you had to?

Are there any other ways to wake up a tired old engine? I dont want to go as far as to bore it out.

I heard that a lot if not all of Speedways no-name intakes are CHEAP Chinese/Japanese junk. If you decide to do the multi-carb set up buy name brand USA made intake &/or exhaust parts not that junk...Joe

I agree. Be American buy American!

I've read that 3x1 setups are a pain in the neck, and 2x1 is the way to go. Is this true?

THIS with THIS with one of THESE is a very popular combination.

depends on what you want to do. if its resto rod then 2x1 manifold, split headers and a pair of period carbs. if its just a hop up then modern is clean easy and reliable, and 1 carb is always easier to tune than a pair or more. this is how it was explained to me. my build is a 261

what can 3 carbs do that 2 cant? w/ 3 more to tune and sync, and maintain as well as get fuel and flow right. plus it can be harder to find 3 matching carbs than 2. unless you modify the carbs, i was told to go down 1 carb if you double them. 2 -216 carbs on a 235, as 2 -235 carbs would be to much as the motor ran on 1 originally. offy or fenton seem to be the intake of choiice, but there are lots of different older manifolds out there. mcgurk, nicson, clifford, halibrand, they pop up on ebay. carbs are choice. some say rochs are ok other swear at them not by them, carters are popular and seem easy to get (except for me b/c i need a pair and cant find them...see the wanted section )

headers...yes, more intake means more exhaust. headers will let the motor flow better, sound better, look better. lots of choices cast vs tube, again a preference as to look, style and price. there is a post and link somewhere here on modifying the original manifold to a duel. real old hot rodding...need it..build it. there are a lot of little tricks to welding cast. find the article, i cant but it is here.

is it a 50 235. dont know if it is an option but the 848 head (363848) was a high compression head, it speaks for itself. i believe they were first available in 53?? and am not sure if they will fit on the earlier 235 motors.....that question is for the experts....not the opinionated like me. hope this helps and is mostly correct.

big ed

Hey guys, what cheap Speedway intakes are you thinking about?
I think the only thing they carry for the 235 is Offenhauser.

regards,
Leon

The difficulty with a 3 carb intake is the linkage interference and rear carb against the firewall. That said some do run them and have overcome the problems. It certainly is a super cool looking setup but it is difficult to make a really good case for them IMO as you can get more than enough fuel with twin carbs. So it becomes largely a matter of personal choice.

Most folks do "swear at them" when talking about Rochesters. I swore at the Holley Webers at first until I got them correctly calibrated and now they run great. So find something you like and go that way. Whatever you decide just be sure to add the electronic ignition and some headers. That alone will pump up the old girl.