Author Topic: Tri-Power 427 fit under 69 SS hood?  (Read 30479 times)

JESSE TACKETT

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Tri-Power 427 fit under 69 SS hood?
« on: July 23, 2017, 12:36:50 PM »
Hey guys, newbie (to the board) here. I have a 69 camaro I intend to restore and hope install a BB chevy with a 69 400/427 tripower setup. Just wondering if anyone has pics of a 69 with an SS hood and this intake/carb combination.
Jess in ky 

BULLITT65

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Re: Tri-Power 427 fit under 69 SS hood?
« Reply #1 on: July 24, 2017, 12:24:23 AM »
Welcome to the CRG!
Sounds like you have a fun project on your hands. There may not be a guy running that exact set up here. You did not mention which intake you have or carbs, I am guessing you will be running something similar to the Vette set up?
If you run the low profile intake i would think it would fit. Worst case you have to make some solid motor mounts that lower the engine a bit for clearance.
1969 garnet red Z/28 46k mile unrestored X77
-Looking for 3192477 (front) spiral shocks 3192851 (rear)
-Looking for an original LOF soft ray windshield
-Looking for original Delco side post negative battery cable part # 6297651AV

JESSE TACKETT

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Re: Tri-Power 427 fit under 69 SS hood?
« Reply #2 on: July 24, 2017, 12:40:53 AM »
Hello Bullit

Yes, it is a vette setup (400hp 427, oval port, 69 model). I searched the web, but had no luck finding an example of my future combo. On a side note, I had and restored a garnet red 69 Z back in the 80's. Original matching numbers car, red with a red interior, factory 4.10 gear car. It was a blast. The car I hope to restore soon is my wife's car (we both had 69s when we first got married). I sold mine, but we still have hers (it was her first car).   jess

maroman

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Re: Tri-Power 427 fit under 69 SS hood?
« Reply #3 on: July 24, 2017, 01:15:30 AM »
This combination is shown in the '67 assembly manual as a cancelled project. I forget which hood was used.
Doug  '67 RS/SS 396 auto I know the car since new

bertfam

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Re: Tri-Power 427 fit under 69 SS hood?
« Reply #4 on: July 24, 2017, 02:14:31 AM »
Quote
This combination is shown in the '67 assembly manual as a cancelled project. I forget which hood was used.

RPO L70 was a small block prototype cancelled long before the Camaro was introduced.

As for an L68 fitting under the SS hood, I would say it "might" fit. Dana, Nickey, Motion, etc... offered the Tri-power upgrade on their 427 transplants for only around $150 extra, so we know it can be done, but of course, they all used custom hoods. The ZL2 hood might be a better option? I believe the engine and intake/carbs will fit no problem, but the main issue might be the air cleaner.

Send it all to me and I'll check it out for you. Although, it may take me several years to get it back to you!!!!

 ;D

Ed
« Last Edit: July 24, 2017, 03:13:05 AM by bertfam »

maroman

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Re: Tri-Power 427 fit under 69 SS hood?
« Reply #5 on: July 24, 2017, 02:34:58 AM »
Thanks Ed, I was going by memory and forgot it was a small block.
Doug  '67 RS/SS 396 auto I know the car since new

JESSE TACKETT

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Re: Tri-Power 427 fit under 69 SS hood?
« Reply #6 on: July 24, 2017, 12:15:32 PM »
Thanks guys....

"...The ZL2 hood might be a better option? I believe the engine and intake/carbs will fit no problem, but the main issue might be the air cleaner...."

I have searched the web numerous times (with no luck) looking for someone who may have fabbed up a "cowl induction" air cleaner to mate a BB tri-power to a ZL2 hood, or modified the bottom of the hood to mate to a triangular tri-power air cleaner. I don't believe there is room inside the correct round base to mate the three carb base and still have room for an element. Am I correct in thinking the dual four Z28 option with the oval air cleaner only mated to a fiberglass hood or was a steel hood available with a modified understructure?  Sorry for all the questions, just thinking out loud.
Jess 

bertfam

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Re: Tri-Power 427 fit under 69 SS hood?
« Reply #7 on: July 24, 2017, 01:43:39 PM »
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I don't believe there is room inside the correct round base to mate the three carb base and still have room for an element.

That's my thinking as well, but if you measure how wide the air cleaner is, I'll check my SS hood. Someone else will have to check the cowl hood since I don't have one.

Quote
Am I correct in thinking the dual four Z28 option with the oval air cleaner only mated to a fiberglass hood or was a steel hood available with a modified understructure?

If you have the "Camaro, Untold Secrets" book by Wayne Guinn, there's a chapter on the fiberglass crossram hood in it, and on page 98 it shows a ZL2 hood next to the crossram hood. The fiberglass hood has a larger "cut-out" for the air cleaner (see example below), but I don't know the dimensions. I'll see if I can get more info and permission to post a picture from Wayne's book.

Ed

68Zproject

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Re: Tri-Power 427 fit under 69 SS hood?
« Reply #8 on: July 25, 2017, 04:43:45 AM »
The cowl hood opening is about 15 1/2".  Most of the systems I see only show this as an option. http://hotrodcarbs.com/store/custom-tri-power-air-cleaners.html

If you had the round top carbs you could get away with a round air cleaner and probably make it fit to the cowl hood with the seal and have it functional. http://www.thecarburetorshop.com/Tripower_air_cleaners.htm
68Z28

68Zproject

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Re: Tri-Power 427 fit under 69 SS hood?
« Reply #9 on: July 25, 2017, 04:51:24 AM »
Is the base of the cowl air cleaner is bigger than the open element?  Maybe you could custom make a bottom for the cowl air cleaner with a bottom from a tri power?
68Z28

rodent

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Re: Tri-Power 427 fit under 69 SS hood?
« Reply #10 on: July 25, 2017, 08:22:03 AM »
Do your own homework.......but I believe '67 intakes are lower than the later years. Might get you where you need to be.

JESSE TACKETT

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Re: Tri-Power 427 fit under 69 SS hood?
« Reply #11 on: July 25, 2017, 11:47:57 AM »
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Maybe you could custom make a bottom for the cowl air cleaner with a bottom from a tri power

....this is what I figured someone had maybe already done, what I had been searching for. Repops of the tri-power air cleaner are cheap enough to sacrifice one for this. I'm a long way from being there right now anyway, so plenty of time to experiment. I have both a cowl ind hood and an SS hood for the car and can go either way. Just thought it would be cool to fab up something close to what GM would have offered, and thought someone may have already done it. Thanks for the replies.
Jess

bertfam

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Re: Tri-Power 427 fit under 69 SS hood?
« Reply #12 on: July 25, 2017, 01:26:26 PM »
I spoke to Troy about this yesterday and he said that Bill Thomas installed the 427 Tri-power in several cars but left the SS hood installed as a "sleeper" because that's what the owners wanted. The side to side was okay, but the front may "just touch", but not enough to make any difference. However, you can't run the hood insulation unless you cut it out for the triangular air cleaner.

Ed

Z28Project

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Re: Tri-Power 427 fit under 69 SS hood?
« Reply #13 on: July 26, 2017, 01:42:44 PM »
That would have a very high cool factor to pop the hood and see that chrome triangle air cleaner!

Ed, what a great view of the underside of the crossram hood!  For being resized to fit within the parameters of this forum, it's incredibly large and crisp.
John

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firstgenaddict

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Re: Tri-Power 427 fit under 69 SS hood?
« Reply #14 on: July 29, 2017, 04:57:47 AM »
There was a 67 Camaro at Charlotte Spring Show for sale with a 68 vette 427 400 tri power all under the hood... looked really clean in there was all exactly as would have been as done in 1968. was a 350 295 4 spd A/C  originally everything was there and hooked up ac all.   
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