To Tri power or not to tri power!?

[Paul]

Will a 62 tripower work in a 59 engine? Also is there an aftermarket version of this tripower for a 59 engine? Is it worth trying to change over from a 4 barrel? Thanks

[David Greenburg]

There was no tri-power in '62, at least for Cadillacs.  The '59 and '60 units are interchangeable. Cadillac's vacuum-operated try-power was finicky, and I know several instances where owners have replaced them with a 4-barrel.

[Bob Schuman]

I'm being really nit-picky here, but there never was a Tri-Power offered on Cadillac or any other cars except Pontiac. It was a marketing name, probably trademarked, by Pontiac, so all of the others, Cadillac. Olds, Chevy, Plymouth, Dodge, Ford, and Mercury created their own names for their three two barrel carburetor engines.
The Pontiac Tri-Power with vacuum controlled end carburetors worked pretty good with an automatic, less so with a manual transmission, because when the throttle was closed for shifts the end carbs remained wide open for an instant, that seemed like a long time with the engine revving. All Cadillacs, having automatics, did not display that condition.

[Paul]

Really the 62 engine did not offer a three two-barrel carb setup? This was only 59-60? I thought the 62 and 59 shared the same 390?

[35-709]

They do, basically.  For instance, the '59 did not have a spin on oil filter, '60 was the first year for that.  "Tri-Power" was only offered in '59 and '60 --- not '61 or '62 eventhough the engines were the same.

[Paul]

So is there a difference between the twoâ€"I have the chance to buy a tripower setup. How would I know if it was originally for 59 or 60? Or does it not matter?

[76eldo]

59 and 60 are the same but the carb numbers may be different. There are also differences for AC or non AC.

They also had tri power in 1958.

Just those three years.

58 is different.

[35-709]

So is there a difference between the twoâ€"I have the chance to buy a tripower setup. How would I know if it was originally for 59 or 60? Or does it not matter?

Make sure you get ALL the pieces, the distributor cap is different too from the 4 barrel to make room.  It may well be that the TV rod is also different.  Trying to find a missing piece or two could prove very difficult.

[76eldo]

Typical prices

1.  Manifold and correct carbs................$1500-$2200
2.  Correct Air Cleaner............................$1500.00
3.  Distributor.........................................$1000.00 (and you won't find any easily)
4.  Vacuum switch (if missing)................$250-$400
5.  Vacuum diaphragm (if missing).........$250-$400
6.  Vacuum can for firewall.....................$750-$1000 (and you won't find any easily)

However, if you are looking to add Tri Power and can go for a mechanical linkage then you wont need items 4,5 or 6
If you use three little chrome air cleaners you won't need item 2

If you are smart and stick with a 4 barrel you won't need any of this stuff!

[fishnjim]

All you need is the manifold and three 2 bbl carbs that fit it.   Everything else is obtainable.   If you want original, that's a money thing.
I converted my '58 from 4 bbl, to 3 x 2 and used modern Rochesters for SBC from Summit Racing with the progressive linkage($1600) and bought a manifold I think from Brain Raichlin ($500).   I have a '59 Cadillac 3 x 2 manifold, if interested.   No carbs. 

You have to change the linkage to make them fit the Cad manifold, but that's easy(I did it).
You can "clock" the distributor to get around the position problem with the points door.  But I use Pertronics, so not issue.   Not so sure that's an issue with the '59 390.   Manifold is slightly different '58 to '59 and maybe the carbs(?) been a while.
Other brands made these set-ups in '62 and beyond, so what you're offered may not be from a Cadillac.
The distributor curve is different for the 3x2, but it'll work just fine with the 4 BBL dist, w. or w/o the vacuum advance.   You can get someone to recurve, if you want to extra HP.
Mine pulled 300 on the dyno with no advance,  The top portion was very flat, so there's lots of HP left to get.   But I'm not racing anymore.    Any good hot rodder can do this.