Tag Archives: linkage

Edelbrock 6×2 X1 ram for Stromberg 97s

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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 Stromberg linkages – small block Ford and more!

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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

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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.