New Stromberg linkages – small block Ford and more!

It must be linkage week here at Stromberg. New 4-banger linkages at the start of the week, and now, more for the V8. If you’ve just stepped up for the long-awaited new Edelbrock 5412 small block Ford 3×2 intake, or you’re lucky enough to have found a cool old intake for three 97s on your vintage overhead valve engine, check these out. Our new 9253PRO is a 3×2 progressive linkage that places the carbs 4 7/8 inches from carb to carb to fit the new Edelbrock 3×2 intake for small block Ford, plus early Weiand 3×2 intakes too. The new 9251PRO works at 4 7/8 inches apart to fit Offenhauser 3×2 intakes for engines like Ford Y-block and 49-61 Cadillac. If you’re looking for direct linkages for these engines, simply choose our 9245S TwoStep kit and trim the linkage rod to suit.

In addition, our new 9249S 2×2 is a simple direct linkage with swivels for a traditional look, sized for a maximum 7 1/2 inches from carb to carb so it fits the cool intake from Edgy Speed Shop for Dodge/Plymouth 201/218 and 230 Flathead 6-cyl engines. We’re reliably informed it will also fit the vintage Edmunds intake for Plymouth 6 engines (with 7 inch carb spacing).

Moving up in size a little we have the new 9250S and 9250P 2×2 direct linkages (S for swivels, P for premium with rod ends). Both set the carburetors a maximum 8 5/16 inches from carb to carb and are designed specifically for the recently announced Offenhauser 1080 2×2 intake for 1949-63 Cadillac motors. Good news is, they also fit the Eddie Meyer 1932-48 ‘low-rise’ intake for Flathead Ford (at 8 1/4in carb spacing).

Prices are US$49.95 (and UK£26.43 + tax) for the 9249S and 9250S, and US$105.95 (UK£54.13 + tax) for the 9250P. Both 9251PRO and 9253PRO kits are US$175.95 (UK£92.46 + tax).

Designed and manufactured exclusively by Stromberg Carburetor, TwoStep linkage kits combine clean, traditional looks with maximum leverage. They come pre-assembled and install in just two simple steps, without the need for extended throttle shafts. Check out the following features:

    • Die-cast zinc SuperLink lever arms. All other parts stainless steel – even the rod ends and lock nuts.
    • Two new Stromberg ‘Snapback’ throttle return springs, which wrap around the end of the throttle shaft. These chemically blacked, stainless steel torsion springs snap the carburetors shut, yet virtually disappear from view.
    • For a smooth, lightweight look, 2×2 kit swivels are positively fixed by a small e-clip, and the small black set-screws have knurled ends for a strong fix on the stainless rod.
    • P kits have special swivels and bolts, developed to clamp the rod ends tight with a small blind hole in the head. Simply insert a small rod eg, a hex key, to stop the swivels turning while you tighten the lock nuts.
    • Progressive kits have opposite threaded rod ends for easy adjustment. Just spin the rod to adjust for the correct lever angles. The primary lever has three mounting points to change when the secondary carburetors open, and you can pull the front carburetor or push the rear one open to suit individual applications. On the top setting (as supplied), the linkage will start to open the secondary (end) carburetors at around 50% primary (center) carburetor throttle rotation. Lower holes will open the secondaries sooner.
    • Every Stromberg TwoStep linkage kit comes with full instructions, and further help with selection, installation and tuning is available at our Tech Center.

‘Jungle Find’ Desoto gets Stromberg hop up

Move over Steve McGarrett. Say aloha to Gordon Cline’s 1951 Desoto Hilo Sampan Bus, one of only 12 known to exist. Sampans were used as rapid transit on the Big Island of Hawaii from the teens to 1995 when Gordon’s DeSoto was retired and sold at auction. Talk about Barn Finds! Man, this is a Jungle Find – from the Island of Kauai. Gordon says the patina on his Sampan was very cool, but having owned it since 2005, he’s now in the process of restoration, trying to keep it looking like it did before, without over-restoring it.

“I wanted to add my touch to the Sampan, but not change the look of it”, says Gordon. “Being from So-Cal all my life and being around hot rods and race cars, I wanted to make it look like it was right out of the early 50’s or 60’s. So I decided to hop up the engine with old and new vintage speed parts. The engine is a Flathead Plymouth, so parts are very hard to find, but the hunt was on. I started with a custom-made aluminum head from Earl Edgerton’s Edgy Speed Shop in Santa Rosa, California. Than I bought an electronic distributor and 12 volt coil from Langdon’s. Headers & finned side plates were found on ebay. I had the headers jet coated at Reward Headers in Camarillo, CA, and a one wire GM chrome alternator was installed. I was going to run a single 97 but a good friend, Mike from MikeCo Antique and Kustom parts in Camarillo, showed me a rare Edmunds intake made for Stromberg 97 carburetors. I had to have it. I had it polished with the Edgy head and side plates and it looked to bitchin’, I called Dan Collins at (Stromberg dealer) Old Gold Garage in Ventura, CA. and bought two new Stromberg 97s (one with a cable choke lever built in), and a new Stromberg 9249S linkage is on its way. The engine is stock, with just a new valve job and bearings. It also has an overdrive transmission.”

Gordon’s trying to get his Sampan done for June 2012 so he can send it back to The Big Island and participate in the “Cruise Paradise” car show and cruise. It’s only held every three years and in 2009 they had over 300 cars. What do we think? Book him Danno….this car is murderously cool.