Tag Archives: linkage

AMBR contender – six chrome Stromberg 97s!

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A few years back, we were looking for old pics for our website of cool Stromberg-equipped cars from back in the day. A great contact in California sent us this awesome COLOUR picture of a channelled ’32 roadster at the 1961 Oakland Roadster Show. We had no idea who took it (though I now hear it was Andy Southard), but I thought it was the coolest thing ever – it says everything about what Stromberg means to millions of hot rodders the world over. But the blue colour balance didn’t work for the website and it never made the cut. Then just recently we nearly used it again for our ad in the forthcoming Jalopy Journal book. Note, I said, ‘nearly’…

So let’s back up to October 2011. We get a phone message from a guy named Marcus in CA. I mean, no-one phones us from California! But he had six chrome 97s and was asking about 6×2 linkages. We were still in development then, but we emailed back and showed him pics of our early feasibility prototypes and mock-ups. By December, we had enough parts to send Marcus our first ever 6×2 Back-bar kit. No idea what the car was or anything. Happy customer… on to the next enquiry…

Next up, in Feb 2012, we get the first pics of the Grand National Roadster Show contenders. We make our personal choice. No contest. Sylvester III, the wild red ’32 with the six chrome 97s. I can’t see the attraction in Indy-car looking hot rods myself, but the judges thought differently, I guess. Then in May this year, a new email back from Marcus. I hate the word ‘humbling’. It’s overused, but it kinda fits here:

Hi Clive, Back in January, you sent us a prototype 6 X 2 rear linkage and we would like to say thanks again for your help.  We have recently finished a project using 6 of your new chrome 97’s, a couple sets of your progressive linkage and your “you-fit” rear linkage and couldn’t be happier with the overall look and performance of all of your products.  We have taken the car to a few high-end indoor shows this year and have been getting a very good response and are attracting a lot of attention………(I’ve cut some here)…. I have attached a couple pictures of the car, and look forward to hearing from you.

Two things. One..humility. Guys build my vote for coolest car of the year and talk about “a very good response”. I should say so! I love this car to death. And we want to give huge thanks to Marcus Owens and Paul Shaughnessy of New Metal Kustomz for using our chrome 97s on this car. 2012 was actually a breakthrough year for Stromberg at the GNRS with a bunch of the real high profile cars using our carburetors and other products. So thanks to all those who chose Genuine Stromberg! We know you have a choice… And the second thing? Suddenly it all makes sense. Mystery Marcus, the awesome red ’32, and yes, of course, it’s the very same car as in our blue-tinted 1961 Show picture!

You can read all about the car and its trip to the GNRS 2012 on the HAMB. No point us repeating it all here. Far better to hear from the various horses’ mouths. Click the HAMB link to check it out.

 

Choosing the right Stromberg 4×2 linkage

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Hot rod 4×2 intakes come in many forms, but most put the carbs in line behind each other or staggered in a 2-plus-2 arrangement. Some are widely spaced to get the carburetors right over the intake ports, with a big plenum chamber, like the famous Horne/Cragar early Cadillac intake (shown below), but some have a very close, overlapped stagger like the Weiand WC4D manifold which is more of a dual-plane design. Stromberg offers a choice of 4×2 direct (non-progressive) linkages – both inline and 2+2 kits, with a ready-to-fit kit for the Offenhauser Pacesetter 5024 intake and a ‘Trim-to-Fit’ kit for everything else.

4×2 in line. Pretty much all the early Flathead Ford intakes, plus a few early ohv intakes, put all four carbs in a line, like a typical 3×2, but with one more 97 squeezed on the end. The main brands you see around are Sharp and Weiand. Building a 4×2 direct linkage so all the carburetors work at the same time is simple. Just order up 4 of our 9091K kits (Superlink lever arm and swivel) and link them together with a straight length of 3/16th rod. You might want to order some of our 9054K Snapback torsion type carburetor return springs, too, but that’s pretty much it.

Building a 4×2 progressive linkage is quite another thing. We have built some to special order, though, and here’s a picture to show how. Email us at sales@stromberg-97.com if you need one. Just one issue. As with most progressive systems, you can’t use banjo fuel fittings as they interfere with the long center levers.

4×2 staggered systems. If your intake manifold spaces the carburetors far enough apart across the intake to get separate linkage rods to each bank of carburetors, you need a quality, sturdy linkage that won’t flex when you stick your foot in it, and won’t swamp your beautiful 97s with huge ugly pillow-block brackets either. The Stromberg 4×2 kits, designed and manufactured exclusively by us, fulfil all those criteria with a whole new level of quality, efficiency and looks. 4×2 staggered systems need a direct (non-progressive) linkage, otherwise some intake ports (and therefore cylinders) are going to starve at low revs. Stromberg offers one type of 4×2 direct linkage, in two sizes.

Our 9271-D Linkage Kit is ready made to fit the Offenhauser Pacesetter 5024 – Chevy intake, which spaces the carburetors 8-5/8 inch in front of each other and 6-1/2 inch apart across the intake with 3/4 inch offset (ie, the one bank is 3/4 inch in front of the other). This linkage is ready to go. It comes almost completely assembled with the Back-bar levers pinned to the shaft, and even though it bolts straight on, it still comes with full instructions, of course.

If you have any other intake of this type, choose our 9270-D 4×2 Trim-to-Fit Direct Linkage Kit. It will work with intakes that space the carburetors up to 9-1/2 inch in front of each other, and the same dimension across the intake, with up to 1 inch of offset between the two banks of carbs. Believe us, that’s going to cover pretty much every production engine around. How difficult is the trimming? You’ll be drilling one hole and maybe shortening one bracket and adjusting the lengths of the rods. Everything is explained in the Installation Guide included. Download a copy right here in our Tech Center if you’d like to see it first.

The Weiand WC4D manifold. We mentioned the Weiand WC4D manifold, above, which sets the Stromberg 97 carburetors in a sort of in-line, overlapped stagger. It places the carburetors so close together, in fact, that our 4×2 kits do not work with this intake. You need long throttle shaft extensions, which can flex and twist in operation. However, we have seen cool linkages with extra beefy shaft extensions specially built for this intake built by Stromberg dealer Baxter Ford in Lawrence, Kansas. Click on the pics below to see more. So if you need one, you’ll find Baxter Ford’s details on our Dealer Network page.

Your link to the pedal. Stromberg recommends a mechanical pedal link for all multi-carb systems. Ideally, your 4×2 Back-bar can be connected to the pedal via one of the long levers that work the two banks of carburetors (they have three adjustment/connecting holes at the top). However, if these do not line up with your pedal link, you can add a third long lever to the Back-bar shaft with Stromberg kit 9096K (Long linkage arm/swivel) positioned to align with your throttle pedal ‘pull’ point. Complete with swivel, clamping screw and 3/32” roll pin, the 9096K lever can also be drilled and pinned to the Back-bar to ensure positive location.

You can download this Tech article at the Stromberg Tech Center (click the link). As with all our Tech articles, we welcome customer feedback and other input. Email us ( tech@stromberg-97.com ) with your thoughts and if it adds to the debate, we can add it in.

Choosing the right Stromberg 6×2 linkage

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So you’ve got yourself a cool 6×2 intake, either a new cast manifold like the Edelbrock X1 ram or the Offenhauser Pacemaker 3924 (low-line), or a U-fab or log-type intake, and you’ve stepped up for six 97s. What you need now is a quality, sturdy linkage that won’t flex when you stick your foot in it, and won’t swamp your beautiful carburetors with huge brackets or weird curved linkage rods going in all directions (yes, we’ve seen them too).

Stromberg has 6×2 progressive and direct (non-progressive) linkages to fit pretty much everything out there. This means ready-to-fit kits for those popular intakes that are available brand new. And ‘Trim-to-Fit’ kits for everything else. The direct linkages come complete in one box. And the progressive linkages are modular, so you can always get the right parts for your intake. Here’s how they work…

Choosing the right 6×2 Direct Linkage kit. Let’s get the easy ones out of the way first. Right now, we offer three 6×2 Direct Linkage kits.

Got the Edelbrock X1 ram 6×2 intake? You need our 9261-D 6×2 Direct Linkage Kit. It spaces the carburetors 4-7/8th inch in front of each other and 9-1/8th inch apart across the intake, and there is no offset between the two banks of carbs. This linkage is ready to go, comes almost completely assembled with the Back-bar levers pinned to the shaft and even though it bolts straight on, it still comes with full instructions, of course.

Got the Offenhauser Pacesetter 3924 6×2 intake? You need our 9262-D 6×2 Direct Linkage Kit. This is a low-line intake compared with the X1 so it can give you a little more clearance for low hood applications. It spaces the carburetors 4-3/4 inch in front of each other and 6-1/2 inch apart across the intake, with the carbs on the US driver’s side 3/4 inch offset in front of the other bank. As before, this linkage is ready to go.

Got something else? You need our 9260-D 6×2 Trim-to-Fit Direct Linkage Kit. It will work with intakes that space the carburetors up to 5-1/2 inch in front of each other, up to 9-1/8th inch apart across the intake and up to 1 inch of offset between the two banks of carbs. Believe us, that’s going to cover pretty much every production engine around. How difficult is the trimming? You’ll be drilling and maybe shortening one bracket and adjusting the lengths of the rods. And everything is explained in the Installation Guide included. Download a copy right here in our Tech Center if you’d like to see it first.

Choosing the right 6×2 Progressive kits.

A 6×2 progressive linkage is really just two 3×2 kits plus the Back-bar which joins it all together. With so many different variables between intakes, that’s also how we offer them. Here’s how to order the right kits for your intake:

1. Measure the carb to carb spacing – from one throttle shaft to the carb in front. Then order two kits – one for each bank – of the correct Stromberg 3×2 progressive linkage to suit your carburetor intake spacing. There’s a list of which linkage fits which spacing below. If your spacing is not covered, buy the next size up and trim down the threaded rod between the secondary (outer) carburetors. Trim the right hand threaded end and add more 3/16-32 UNF thread if required.

For this spacing….use this kit

4-9/16inch………..9243PRO

4-3/4inch………….9253PRO (fits Offenhauser Pacesetter 3924)

4-7/8inch………….9251PRO (fits Edelbrock X1 ram)

5-3/16inch………..9245PRO

5-1/2inch………….9246PRO

2. Now add the 6×2 Progressive Back-bar Kit to link both carburetor banks together. 6×2 intakes can differ in the space and offset between banks.

For this intake…………….use this kit

Edelbrock X1 ram………..9261-BB

Offenhauser Pacesetter 3924…….9262-BB

Anything else……………..9260-BB (Trim-to-Fit)

It might also pay to compare the spacing, width and offset of the Edelbrock and Offenhauser intakes (see above in Direct Linkages) to see if they are nearer to your requirements.

Your link to the pedal. Stromberg recommends a mechanical pedal link for all multi-carb systems. Ideally, your 6×2 Back-bar can be connected to the pedal via one of the long levers that work the two banks of carburetors (they have three adjustment/connecting holes at the top). However, if these do not line up with your pedal link, you can add a third long lever to the Back-bar shaft with Stromberg kit 9096K (Long linkage arm/swivel) positioned to align with your throttle pedal ‘pull’ point. Complete with swivel, clamping screw and 3/32” roll pin, the 9096K lever can also be drilled and pinned to the Back-bar to ensure positive location.

You can download this Tech article at the Stromberg Tech Center (click the link). As with all our Tech articles, we welcome customer feedback and other input. Email us (tech@stromberg-97.com )with your thoughts and if it adds to the debate, we’ll it in.

New Stromberg linkages – 6×2 & 4×2

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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

LA Roadsters Show – Father’s Day – Plans

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If you’re lucky enough to live in Southern California, you won’t need much reminding that the 48th LA Roadsters Show & Swap will take place at the Pomona Fairplex on 16th-17th June 2012. 2000 rods in speciality parking. Monster swap meet. Cacklefest. Huge indoors Manufacturer’s Area. There’s always plenty to see over the Father’s Day Weekend. Click here for more info. And here for the flyer.

If you’re heading to the show this year, please call and say hi. You’ll find us at the H&H Flatheads booth just outside Building 4. We’ll have carburetors, linkages and service parts there, of course, plus a full range of Stromberg Clothing & Collectibles too – T-shirts and hats, signs, license plate surrounds and more.

Stock up for summer. And save on shipping!