Stromberg BIG97 and 97 in Jan 2016 Street Rodder

Stromberg BIG97

BIG97 in Street Rodder

Stromberg 97 carburetors ( regular and BIG97 ) have gained some superb coverage in a major feature in January 2016 Street Rodder. It’s all about flathead Ford intake manifolds. Navarro, Edelbrock, Sharp, Offenhauser and more (all of which can work with the BIG97, of course). Written by Ron Ceridono with help from Kev Elliott and Mike Herman from H&H Flatheads, it’s also available online. You might find the online version a little easier to read. Click here to check it out! Here’s a couple of excerpts:

“Thanks to Mike Herman we were able to gather photos of the most popular intake options H&H currently offers for early (1932 to 1948) and late (1949 to 1953) Flatheads. While the manifolds look similar there are significant differences. The positions of the carburetors on two-two manifolds vary and as a result some require moving the generator, others don’t (manifolds that accommodate the generator are often called regular dual, while those with the carbs further apart are usually referred as super dual). By spreading the carburetors further apart they have a straighter shot into the ports and fuel distribution is improved but relocating the generator requires a head-mounted bracket. Some manifolds are equipped with exhaust heat, others aren’t. In cool locales with today’s fuel exhaust heat can help driveability, in hot climates it’s not normally necessary. All the manifolds shown here accept the stock-style fuel pump stand and the oil filler/road draft tube for 1949 to 1953 applications. Another difference is the number of bolts used to secure the manifold. Due to the shape of the runners, in some cases, the number of bolts has been reduced. On the other hand, in some cases, there are more holes in the manifold in the block, but in either case it’s not a problem.

Although all the manifolds shown are good, some manifolds may perform better than others with a given engine combination. The best bet to resolve that issue is to deal with an expert on the subject like Mike Herman.

Stromberg now offers a larger version of the 97. Completely reworked internally, they flow 250 cfm, compared to the original’s 165 cfm.”

 

New Stromberg linkages – 6×2 & 4×2

To be honest, it feels like our modular linkage kits for Stromberg 97 carburetors on Edelbrock, Offenhauser and other 4×2 and 6×2 intakes have been in development for years – and in truth they probably have. But now they’re at the warehouse ready to go. And we’re double proud of them. Eight new direct and progressive kits for commonly available 6×2 and 4×2 intakes, plus versatile Trim-to-Fit kits covering the full range of vintage applications.

It goes without saying that they are all developed from scratch, in-house. And it was no easy task. If you want quality linkages (ie. with rod ends), multi-carb linkages are a real challenge as almost every intake differs in carburetor spacing, width and the offset between the two banks. How do we cover all those bases? With tailored solutions for those intakes still available new, like the Offy Pacesetters and the Edelbrock X1 ram, plus Trim-to-Fit options, which cover pretty much everything else out there. Unlike many a linkage, ours come pre-assembled with full instructions – including ‘Trimming to Fit’. Each kit comes in a cool zinc/stainless finish but chrome and polished stainless is available to special order.

So here’s the deal: The direct (non-progressive) linkages are supplied as complete kits with our Snapback return springs.  And the 6×2 progressive kits are modular, so you simply purchase two 3×2 progressive kits from our current range to suit your carb intake spacing, then add the new Back-bar Kit to link both carburetor banks together.

At the heart of the new systems is our unique low-line Back-Bar brackets that won’t over-whelm your shiny new 97s. Precision rolled in stainless steel and reamed for the Oilite self-lubricating bushes, they support the Back-bar shaft at BOTH ENDS for zero flex and positive operation. You simply cannot say that if your Back-bar is supported at one end only. With so much return spring involved, the free end of the shaft flexes like crazy without full support.

All our Back-bar levers are clamped AND PINNED onto the shaft. With ‘3-position’ adjustment, you can alter the leverage and throttle response, too. And our stainless Back-bar end stops prevent lateral movement. We strongly recommend a mechanical link to the pedal with any 4×2 or 6×2 system, so we’re also making our long Back-bar levers available separately as kit 9096K. Complete with swivel, clamping screw and 3/32” roll pin, they can be drilled and pinned to the Back-bar to ensure positive  location and correct alignment with your pedal pull point.

We’re putting all the new kits onto our website this week, so you can check them all out here…Stromberg TwoStep Linkage Kits. And we’ve also posted the full Installation Guide onto the Stromberg Tech Centre right here…TwoStep 4×2 & 6×2 Linkage & Back-bar kits Installation Guide

Edelbrock 6×2 X1 ram for Stromberg 97s

Could there be a better sight in hot rodding? Six Stromberg 97s, loud and proud on the legendary Edelbrock Chevy X1 ram 6×2 intake? Alright, we’re biased…but you can’t deny it’s an eyeful. And that it’s right up there as the coolest news in nostalgia induction for many a year…Yes, Edelbrock are repopping that legendary X1 intake. We know, you’ve wanted one for years, but they were hard to find, right? And yes they were expensive and beat up and dirty and all that stuff – like the original in our carb pictures. But not any more!

Here’s the history bit. Vic Edelbrock Snr introduced the X1 ram six-carburetor manifold in 1958, getting 284 hp out of the hot new 283 ci Chevy engine. Alright, so it doesn’t sound too hot now, but this was 1958, remember. One horse per inch out of any motor was BIG NEWS! Cross ram was always going to be the way to go for high performance – still is – but one of its secrets was the long tapered runners, which allowed the mixture to accelerate at a steady rate towards the intake port. Best of all, it used six Stromberg 97s. Vic even guaranteed it would out-perform any other six-carb intake around at the time. According to the excellent book, “Merchants of Speed: The Men who built America’s Performance Industry”, the X1 was used to test Vic Jnr’s 339 inch Chevy powered ski-boat motor in 1961. WIth six 97s, it made 364 horse on the famous Edelbrock dyno. The following year it pulled 375 horse from a 283ci (!) motor when testing a new Polydyne profile camshaft over at Iskenderian Racing Cams.

So here’s the deal. The new X1 manifold is designed to run best at 2500 to 7500 (you wish!) rpm. The GM coil in cap style HEI will not fit. And it will stand you back about 450 bucks. You’ll need a shiny new oil fill tube to complete the nostalgic look. And six new Stromberg 97 carbs of course. You can get the new intake here at Summit Racing…

But wait, did someone say 6×2 linkage? Our super-cool new 6×2 and 4×2 TwoStep linkage range is ready to go! Launching at a dealer near you very soon. A modular range of direct and progressive linkage kits with a new low-line back-bar design that keeps the carbs as the star of the show, not the linkage. Here are some preview pictures. Email us if you need one right now. Plain and CHROME both available…..

New Edelbrock small block 3×2 Ford intake for Stromberg 97s

You don’t need to be a hot rodder to know that old is now new – or should that be news – but even the most corporate of performance companies are now opening their eyes to nostalgia overhead valve motors. Edelbrock’s new 5412 3×2 intake for small block Ford is not just a reproduction of an old intake, but a brand new one! Click on the pics for a closer look.

To be fair, Edelbrock and Offenhauser have made 3×2 intakes for small block Chevy available for ever. Add three new 97s and our 9246S or 9246PRO TwoStep linkage and you’re just about ready to go. But if you owned a 260, 289 or a 302 Ford and wanted a cool 3×2 intake, you were pretty much out of luck. Until now, that is, as Edelbrock’s 5412 3×2 Ford intake brings 3×2 looks and power to exactly those engines.

Time for a short math note. We’re often asked whether three 97s provide enough air for a small bock Ford or Chevy. Here’s the deal. Engine size (ci) x max revs divided by 3456 is the maximum air your cylinders can handle if your motor is 100% volumetrically efficient (which is unlikely). So even for the bigger Ford, 302 x 5500/3456 = 480cfm. Most engines are nearer 80% efficient at the top end (so they need just 384cfm), but even if it is 100%, three new 97s can give you 486cfm max. And remember, you only need that much air at high revs. We haven’t dyno’d this intake yet, but the Chevy 3×2 dual plane intakes pretty much flatten out at 5000rpm anyway. Remember, for most of us, it’s more about mid-range torque and drivability.

There’s not a whole bunch else for us to say, except that the 5412 is claimed to be good for 5500rpm and costs just under 400 bucks. Our TwoStep 9253S (direct) and 9253PRO (progressive) linkages bolt straight on. And you can find out more at Stromberg dealer Summit Racing‘s website. As soon as we can get our hands on one, we’ll get better pics and get it on the dyno too.

New 2×2 linkage for Ford 4-bangers

We’ve got together with our buddy Charlie Yapp at Scalded Dog Speed Parts (and the early Ford four-banger dedicated ‘Secrets of Speed Society’, of course) to produce some cool linkages for early Ford Model A-based four-cylinder engines.

The new Stromberg TwoStep 9248S (direct) and 9248PRO (progressive) linkages are designed principally for use with the popular Scalded Dog Equalizer and Riley Two Port intake manifolds (both available from Scalded Dog Speed Parts), which set the carburetors five inches apart. The new TwoStep 9252S and 9252PRO linkages set the carburetors 9 5/8th inches apart to suit Burns, Zephyr and Roof 101 Cyclone intakes. Prices for all kits are highly competitive: $45.95 (or £24.96 + UK tax) for the S (direct) kits, and $99.95 (or £49.96 + UK tax) for the PRO (progressives).

Designed and manufactured exclusively by Stromberg Carburetor, the TwoStep linkage range combines clean, traditional looks with maximum leverage and huge versatility. Each kit comes pre-assembled and installs 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.
  • Every kit comes with 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.
  • TwoStep progressive systems are designed to ensure optimum performance and maximum versatility. The long primary lever has three mounting points so you can change when the secondary carburetor opens, 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 carburetor at around 50% throttle. Lower holes will open the secondary carburetor sooner.
  • To improve leverage, the primary (center) arm was kept as long as possible without hitting the carburetor S-jet. It also has a bigger clamping screw to handle more linkage torque. The sliding progressive rod meets the secondary carb rod at the top of the lever arm – not part way down like some systems. Effective leverage is especially important as 97 multi-carb systems have strong spring resistance.
  • The neat tapered rod stops are fully adjustable, with discreet set screw fixings.

Just one warning, I’m afraid: Like most progressive linkage systems for Stromberg carburetors, the TwoStep progressive linkages cannot be used with banjo fuel fittings (eg. Stromberg 9082K and 9083K). The banjo and its fuel hose interfere with the long (primary) linkage arm causing linkage binding or sticking. You can use our 9080K hose ends instead, of course, leading your hoses to a firewall-mounted 2-outlet fuel manifold block.

We wouldn’t be responsible if we didn’t ask you to read the instructions before installation, of course. Luckily, (and unlike most other linkage suppliers) Stromberg TwoStep linkages all come with full instructions.