If you’re running a single 3 bolt 2 barrel carb, then an Offenhauser 3x2 intake will give you more performance. Just not as good as the other intakes. If you’re doing it mostly for looks, go for it. If you’re not changing your cam, I don’t know how much performance you can expect.

  Dennis in Lititz PA

I am in the process of trying to get a dyno session with Ted Eaton again with the Offenhauser intake in stock and ported configurations to see where the issues are with the intake.  I have a SF-600 Flow Bench, and have been porting heads and intakes since 1972.  I have flow sheets on every intake I port, every head I port before, and after to see just how much change was accomplished.  I was amazed when I looked into the Offenhauser plenum areas, and have taken pictures for a write-up, before and after I finish porting the intake.  I also have a stock Edelbrock 573, and ported 573 for comparison.  I have a set of the Ford 94s, and a new set of the Strombert 97 Big Bore carbs to use for testing.  Hopefully this will answer many questions when completed.   Joe-JDC


JDC

Unfortunately, the Offy 3 carb Y-block intake has been the "bane" of our favorite engine, going back to a published project in Popular Hot Rodding in 1971!
  And despite it's last place finish in a field of seven intakes, stats that were published few years ago on this site & in Y-Block Magazine, courtesy of our Moderator Ted, it's happend again in a Mar, 2018 issue of Hot Rod!. When Ted tested the Offy, the performance was noticebly inferior even to the 6th place intake. So, since it's interior design is so poor, it likely isn't great on fuel mileage either.       


Paul

So i read the article on to three duce intakes, which vas very good.  It and other sources all make reference to the offy intake to be poor choice.  Is this from a performance perspective only or are they just not good to use for other reason.  if so what are they?  

The carbs are still plentiful out here at swap meets(the Seattle area). Intakes are getting more expensive. I occasionally pick up really nice 94's around that price, but i only buy pre 8ba ones since they dont have the ugly vacumn port, typically i pass them up since i have a ton though. As for intakes, they are drying up. y-block intakes were pretty common 10 or so years ago, but i do see them from time to time. The one on my shelf i picked up 8 or so years back for $350 with 3 big logo 97's.

Not trying to be a smart ass but, I'd love to find the $20 94's and couple hundred intake. That may have been true a few years ago but not so much now. You'll get what you pay for. Take the time to get the best quality parts and you will have less trouble. Miker's and others advice is sound. There also is a guy on eBay that sells complete set ups. How name is Ron Kellogg if I remember correctly. There usually decently priced.


Durham Missouri

Jeeze, are you guys trying to scare him? Get a couple hundred dollar swap meet intake and the first three kinda matching $20 holley 94's you see. Throw some rebuild kits in them and give it a whirl. Probably best to go progressive linkage with shut off idle circuits on the outer 2 carbs, unless you want to go straight linkage like most of the 1950's builds were. Play around, learn to read plugs and see if you can get it to run the way you want it. The worst thing that can happen is you pull it back off and use it as a shelf ornament. 

On and anouther thought, screw buying 3 holley 94's, you might have a 94 style carb on it already(94 stands for the .94 venturi, they made them from .92" thru 1.1875") throw that one on the center since it probably works, then you just need to figure out the secondary outer carbs. Heck with progressive linkage you can adjust it so the other carbs never even get actuated. 

I'd be doing the same since i have an intake with a trio of 97's but i also have the 1957 holley intake and a proper 1957 t-bird holley so i think that is my plan

Oh and these guys arent joking about running a regulator BTW

I’ve been running this since 2003. If you look closely, I have 3 ball valves to shut off the gas. The 1st year I ran on just the center carb. You can leave the linkage loose so the outer carb butterflys don’t open. You need a ‘57 or newer distributor if you’re using all 3 carbs. This is a 239 that been bored and stroked.

  Dennis in Lititz PA

Back in the late 90’s I bought a 3x2 setup from Charlie Price at Vintage Speed. Complete, ready to go, all the carbs run on his test mule. Took a little tweaking, but not much. In those days the y block intakes were pretty available and he did the whole works. I don’t remember the price, but so long ago it’s moot. But go take a look at his site and the pricing, it’ll give you a ballpark of what you’re looking at, and then you’ll have to add in the tuning.

All the advice above is good and accurate, most of it from guys who really know. If you’re not comfortable doing tuning on a single four barrel, or even a rebuild and tune on a stock two barrel, you’re going to spend quite a bit of money finding some one to do it for you. I’m not trying to discourage you, just pointing out the reality of it. I’ve owned my Unison since the mid 1960’s and used it on many vehicles over the years. Multiple carbs take careful thought and patience, one change never two at a time, and write everything down. Modern OX2 gauges help, but that’s more expense and they have their own learning curve.

Good luck and enjoy your ride.

http://vintagespeed.com

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

All this info sounds great.  But I wonder if my lack of ability to due a lot of this could I place the intake on and just run off the center carb and cap off the others.  And make linkage that does not connect to center carb.  Would this just be stupid.  Would like the to work but do not want to spend a lot of down time getting in over my head. Or maybe I should spend the summer looking and talking to other in my area if I can find them and look for someone that could do show and tell to help.