Today we’re seeing more street rod and muscle car enthusiasts moving away from carburetion toward computerized fuel injection. Fuel injection is the wave of the future because it produces better performance and fuel economy and generates fewer fuel emissions, but there are diehards who like the nostalgic appearance and performance of carburetors.
During the early muscle car golden era from 1962-72, carburetors were the induction type of choice. We saw one- and two-barrel, single four-barrel, dual-quad, four-barrel and three two-barrel carburetion. When Ford introduced the 406-ci FE big-block engine in 1962 it was offered with different carburetor counts: single 2V (two-barrel carb), a single 4V (dual-quad four-barrel carb), 2 or 4V carbs and the tri-power (three two-barrel 6V carburetors). The Holley tri-power 3×2 carb setup was offered as a high performance package with the 1962-63, Galaxy and Tunderbird 406-ci engines.
Holley 2300C 3×2 Tri-power Carburetor System
The Holley 2300 tri-power carburetors are basically the same with a couple of exceptions. The two outboard carburetors contain all of the usual systems except there is no choke, power valve, accelerating pump, idle and spark advance. The outboard carburetors are equipped with #56 jets because they don’t have power valves. Each carburetor is equipped with a throttle control vacuum diaphragm. The outboard carburetors are connected to the center main carburetor’s slotted throttle lever by two adjustable connector rods. The slotted throttle lever of the center carburetor allows the throttle valve to open on the outboard carburetors as vacuum requires and close mechanically with the controlling center carburetor.
Sean Murphy, owner of SMI in Huntington Beach, California, shared his high-performance induction expertise and wisdom with us in a recent visit. He specializes in both Holley and Rochester carburetors. Sean has spent many years improving carburetor fuel delivery systems for drag, road and oval racing. He’s become one of the masters of performance carburetors. During our visit we also gathered knowledge from Sean’s assistant, James Ferguson.
Sean and James showed us the highlights of proper cleaning, machining and reassembly of the Holley 2300 C main/center carburetor of the tri-power 3×2 system. The other two outboard Holley 2300 series carburetors were also cleaned, machined and reassembled separately. The disassembly and reassembly of the two outboard Holley 2300 carburetors are not shown in this article.
01. An original Holley tri-power 3×2 (6V) model 2300-C carburetor setup was removed from a ’63 Ford Galaxy EF 406-ci engine. The Holley tri-power 3×2 system was waiting to be disassembled, inspected, cleaned, machined, dipped and reassembled.02.After blowing off and wiping down the Holley 2300-C carburetor, it was time to begin disassembly. The Holley 2300-C tri-power has a fully functioning center or main carburetor. The two outboard front and rear Holley 2300 carburetors that make up the tri-power system contain all of the usual systems and components, except for the choke, power enhancement accelerator pump, idle and spark advance.03.The float bowl was separated from the metering block. Surprisingly, the internal components were well preserved.04.The choke plate was unscrewed and removed from the choke plate shaft.05.The throttle plates were removed from the base plate shaft.06.All of the disassembled Holley 2300 main (center carb) components were placed in a soaking bucket. The bucket was filled with ChemFree OzzyJuice SW-4 a water-based degreasing solution that is pH neutral, biodegradable, non-hazardous, non-flammable and non-caustic. The OzzyJuice/OzzyMatt solution is kept at a consistent temperature between 108-115°F. The parts were soaked for four hours.07.After soaking in the ChemFree OzzyJuice solution, the parts were cleaned separately using the ChemFree SmartWasher. While the OzzyJuice was circulated through the SmartWasher system, the parts were cleaned thoroughly using the circulating cleaning brush.08.The carburetor main body was secured in a fixture and placed in a mill. All of the main body mounting gasket surfaces were fly-cut to remove 0.30-inch of material, ensuring a perfectly smooth and even mounting surface.09.The carburetor body, metering block, float bowl and base plate were placed in the media-blasting cabinet where the surfaces were blasted with AD (70-140) glass media.10.To ensure further surface cleaning, etching and sealing, the carburetor main body, metering block, float bowl, choke housing and vacuum diaphragm cover were separately dipped into a dye chromate acid solution that was preheated at 100°F for 3-5 seconds. The dye chromate solution was immediately rinsed off with water to neutralize the coated surfaces.11.To ensure further surface cleaning, etching and sealing, the carburetor main body, metering block, float bowl, choke housing and vacuum diaphragm cover were separately dipped into a dye chromate acid solution that was preheated at 100°F for 3-5 seconds. The dye chromate solution was immediately rinsed off with water to neutralize the coated surfaces.12.The Holley tri-power 3×2 setup is made up of two outboard carburetors and one center main carburetor (disassembled) with choke.13.Three Holley carburetor kits were used to reassemble all three carburetors.14.Sean began the reassembly of the Holley 2300-C carburetor by installing the throttle plates to the throttle shaft in the base plate. The stamped throttle plates are installed with the plate numbers facing down and to the back.15.The fast idle cam adjuster assembly was secured to the end of the throttle plate shaft.16. The fast idle cam adjuster assembly was secured to the end of the throttle plate shaft.17.The fast idle cam adjuster assembly was secured to the end of the throttle plate shaft.18.After installing the choke plate linkage assembly, the choke plate slides into the shaft and is secured.19.A pair of #59 primary main jets was installed into the metering block.20.The lower valve was threaded into the metering block and secured. Vacuum was set at 6.5.21.A new float assembly and a solid Nitrophyl float, spring and arm were installed into the float bowl housing. Then the needle was threaded and seated to allow for proper float height in the float bowl.22.After carefully installing the accelerator check-ball valve into the accelerator artery, the installer made sure the ball rotated. The accelerator pump diaphragm and spring were assembled, and the accelerator pump cover was secured.23. The metering block gasket (blue) was sandwiched between the carburetor body and metering block.24.The other metering block gasket (blue) was sandwiched between the float bowl housing and metering block, and then secured.25. After inserting the screws, the float bowl housing was secured.26.The choke piston was inserted into the piston bore and secured. The piston arm tab will be engaged to the choke coil spring.27.The choke housing was aligned and secured to the main body of the carburetor using mounting screws.28.After assembling the choke coil spring into the cover, it was carefully aligned, making sure that the coil spring loop engaged with the choke piston arm tab. Then the choke was positioned according to the alignment notches on the cover and secured.29.After both of the outboard carburetors were reassembled, the Holley tri-power 3×2 carburetor setup was completed and mocked up.30.Three new intake manifold gaskets were installed onto the Edelbrock aluminum intake ports of the manifold.31.The Holley 2300-C main (center) carburetor with choke was mounted first, followed by the outboard (front and rear), Holley 2300 2-bbl carburetors without chokes.32.The adjustable throttle linkage rods were installed and then secured with a cotter clip on the center carburetor throttle linkage.33. The adjustable throttle linkage rods were installed and then secured with a cotter clip on the center carburetor throttle linkage.34.There you have it, a completed Holley 2300 tri-power carburetor setup mounted on an Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold of a freshly built Ford 406-ci engine. Pretty impressive!
SOURCES
SMI Sean Murphy Induction
17671 Metzler Lane, Unit A7
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
714.843.9169
ChemFree Corp.
8 Meca Way
Norcross, GA 30093
770.564.5580 Chemfree.com
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