I was contacted buy a guy that said he had a 3 duce setup for a y block, and other configurations.  I seen some of these but do not know anything about them.  Where they something that was created for the y block motor?  What would someone have to do to use a 3 duce setup.  Has anybody used this setup?  I would like to find out about this.  I am not planning to do this but would be great to be able to know some info for my talk with people about these.  Is there any site that deal with this?  Can any one help? 

There were many 3-2 manifolds produced for the Y by aftermarket companies.  They all use the older style 3 bolt 2 barrels.  Modern 4 bolt 2 barrels will not work.

Here is a link to some dyno testing to help make a decision on the manifold you want.  This is not every 3-2 manifold produced but it includes some of the more common ones as well as a few less common ones.
http://www.eatonbalancing.com/2013/12/18/y-block-ford-3x2-intake-testing/

Since I have no first hand experience installing or using one, I'l let others comment on that.  It has been done many times.


Lawrenceville, GA

Great article good read.  Did not know the 3X2 was so involved.  Unless you looking for some thing to ply with would make good eye candy for others

I ran one of these setups back in the day on a hot 312 Fairlane 300.   Like Charlie said there were different manufacturers. Port sizes vary.   This website shows all the available Y Block intake manifolds with photos http://m571.com/yblock/intake.htm

You must use quality linkage or you are asking for high maintenance.  Tuning these carbs is easy enough.  Tripower Y Blocks are hard to beat in the nostalgia looks department.  They look great in an open street rod or when you pop the hood on cruise night.  My '57 was heavily street raced with an Isky cam, headers and exhaust dumps. It ran the fastest with one Holley 4 barrel on a modified 4V intake.  The only problem was the more power I built into the motor the more transmissions I went through.  That old Ford showed it's tail lights to many a Brand X hot rod. 

Here’s a picture of mine, been running it for 14 years now, since 2003. It’s in a ‘54 F100.



  Dennis in Lititz PA

the 55 cv i had back high school had the 57 4 barrel setup. One summer I went through 7 tyranny's before i put in top loader.  But was a great ride and fast. i learned to swop tranny's in my sleep still remember how to do.  this is why i finally got a 55 cv again.  And its great.

I had them on my 54 for a while.  Had problems dialing them in so I went to an Edelbrock 4bbl on a B manifold.  Here's a pick


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Ah yes, the old tranny problem...   Back then we were buying 3 speeds out of a junk yard for $20 a piece.   Second gear always blew out, but we always limped home somehow.  I finally got a T85 out of a Merc and that solved the problem.  My Y block brings back a lot of memories.  Great motors.

The standard duty Ford 3 speed we used to call a "butter box" because thats how strong the gears were. The T85 was good. I put a '63 toploader  3 speed in my '58 Fort 292 after destroying a couple of the "butter boxes". Ran one in my T Bird until I recently put a toploader 4 speed in it. I have a neat Tri Power setup sitting on my shelf in the garage and thats where it will stay.