Tag Archives: Stromberg

ALL-NEW 250cfm Stromberg BIG97 available now!

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We’ve been talking about our new BIG97 for far too long already. But now they’re available. Here’s the press release to start with. And we’ll be posting far more (i.e. everything we’ve got!) in the coming days and weeks. Please stay tuned!

May 2015. New BIG97 makes traditional carburetion available to a new performance audience.

Stromberg Carburetor is excited to announce the all-new BIG97 Tri-Power. On the outside, it’s all Genuine 97 – the original hot rod 3×2. But on the inside, an incredible 750cfm air flow makes traditional hot rod carburetion available to a whole new performance audience. Designed on the classic Primary/Secondary format with many new and exclusive features, the all-new BIG97 Tri-Power is the perfect bolt-on for your performance small block Chevy or Ford.

with fuel

  • BIG 750cfm airflow – 55% more air than regular 97s
  • Signature 97 outside shape – No change!
  • New power valve circuits improve fuel conditioning
  • New ‘early plenum effect’ boosts top end power
  • Ported distributor vacuum adds mid range torque
  • Progressive linkages and classic 3-into-1 fuel line available
  • Runs out of the box. Pre-jetted for typical SBC/SBF

Stromberg owner, Clive Prew said: “With 750cfm in a three-carb package on a progressive linkage, you can cruise economically on the single Primary, then punch in the Secondaries when you step on the gas. BIG97s reduce the level of vacuum the engine has to pull to get the air it needs, which promotes higher air/fuel density. They also reduce mixture velocity which allows that denser, fuel-heavy air an easier, less turbulent, turn into the inlet manifold. Coupled with improved fuel conditioning, it all adds up to more power for your rear wheels.”

From the outset, Stromberg’s aim was to re-engineer the 97 venturi and throttle body to maximize airflow without changing the signature outside shape. But achieving as much as 250cfm per carburetor – some 55% more than a regular new 97 (at 162cfm) is only part of the story.

The BIG97 Primary carburetor has a new power valve, located in the fuel bowl. Feeding top end enrichment directly into the emulsion tubes, it significantly improves fuel conditioning for more horsepower on less fuel. How? Because the more it emulsifies the fuel, especially at high rpm when manifold pressure is low, the easier it is to atomize, distribute and burn. At the same time, an oval cut-out, just under the throttle plates (Stromberg’s ‘early plenum effect’ ) coupled with our recommended intake manifold modifications, boosts top end power by slowing the mixture down and allowing any cylinder to draw from both barrels.

BIG97 Primaries also come with a swap-in fitting to provide ported vacuum for your aftermarket distributor, improving combustion efficiency in cruising mode for more torque and improvements in fuel mileage too.

Finally, everything that’s made the Genuine Stromberg 97 so popular over the past ten years is built into the all-new BIG97: An early style cast iron base for low heat transfer. A reinforced air horn casting to eliminate warping and leaks. High tech gaskets. Stainless steel levers, linkage and springs. Original-style riveted throttle and choke shafts. And more.

Stromberg BIG97 Primary and Secondary carburetors are available separately or as a ready-to-run Tri-Power (one Primary and two Secondaries), with extra savings available on packages with Stromberg’s exclusive Small Block Chevy linkage and fuel line.

Further reading on all of the new BIG97 features and benefits is available on the Stromberg Tech Center at www.stromberg-97.com:

The new Genuine Stromberg BIG97 Tri-Power is available through the worldwide Stromberg dealer network. Further details and help with installation is available at www.stromberg-97.com.

Ends

 

Stromberg hits Rodders Journal Revival

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So, off we went to the 2014 Rodders Journal VIntage Speed and Custom Car Revival, at the Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore.  For us, the weekend started at the North Baltimore Plaza Hotel for the 55-mile cruise to the quaint town of Havre de Grace. And even better, we caught a ride with our new best buddy Brian Auderer in his awesome green Model A sedan, ‘The Jewel’. What a privilege! After that, the whole weekend was a blur of activity day and night. The Race Course was packed with cars of awesome quality. The hotel car parks and the many off-site events extended the days into the nights. And as ever, we crowd-sourced a whole new bunch of friends. Our pictures are a little random, I’m afraid, and very Stromberg 97-oriented, too. I suspect we were too busy talking to take more (and better) pics. We certainly enjoyed the weekend. Get yourself along next year!.

Stromberg Pontiac – Official BIG 97 Demonstrator!

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BIG 97

The Stromberg Pontiac got a little update recently, in the form of some very cool period sign painting by our good friend Neil Melliard at ProSign. Neil is regarded as one of best guys around when it comes to this sort of work, and you can see why. This stuff is hand painted with good old One Shot enamel. We just told him what we had in mind and after a short discussion about styles and what was and wasn’t possible, we just left him to it. Two days later, we were done. And about a fortnight after that we got out the trusty red 3M Scotchbrite pad and mucked it all up! Instant patina.

Pontiac fans will recognise the period advertising lines. The rest are all our own. Look out for a lot more BIG 97 promotion in 2015. And more news on the Stromberg Pontiac. Great job Neil. Thanks! As usual, click on the pics for a closer look.

 

 

New trim for the Stromberg Pontiac

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Back in the summer we took the Stromberg Pontiac to Neil Tadman at Neil’s Auto Interiors, down in Essex, (here in the UK) for a little interior trim work. When we bought our ’55 Pontiac, the trim condition was one of the main things that made us click “BUY IT NOW”. But it was pretty filthy and the driver’s seat area was a little ripped too. Still, we set to with various interior cleaning products and a bucket of soapy water and pretty soon we knew what we had. The back seat came up like NEW, which amazed us. The door panels too, cleaned up great, and the rear trunk area responded well to a lot of scrubbing and silicone based detailing spray.

The front seat, though, was onto a loser from the get go. Not just the previous too-bright red repair and the sun shrinkage, but also my jeans caught in the rip and made it about ten times worse. Fact is, the vinyl was so hard and nasty, it was well beyond saving, so Neil found some new materials which matched the sun-faded rear and trimmed the whole front seat. It may not look it in the pictures, but the match is incredible. To say we were pleased is an understatement. It’s given the car a whole new lease of coolness.

On the floor, the car came with a red plastic mat, which after so many years was way crispy. Every time anyone got in the car, it cracked some more and fell apart. And once we had to get it all out to put new metal floors in, of course, it all had to go. Neil replaced the lot with some nice red square weave carpet, backed with sound deadening and edged with cotton binding that he dyed up to match. He added a couple of practical heel pads in the front and we were home free. As you can see, it goes all the way under the rear seat.

So, one more tick off the list for the Stromberg Pontiac. Click on the pics for bigger views. It’s about time we fitted those 97s. Stay tuned!

Stromberg 97 with ported vacuum

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DSC_0726We have added an important new capability to our 97 model carburetor – a ‘ported vacuum’ source for your vacuum advance distributor. Available as an option (add -VP on to the usual carb part numbers) it is available on the full range of Stromberg 97 carburetors – in stock on the regular OE finish and to special order on Chrome, Black and Barn Find models. Ported vacuum capability is also available in a new replacement base casting (throttle body), complete with all new throttle shaft and plates, idle needle screws, kicker linkage and choke lever. Available only from Stromberg Carburetor, it’s the perfect swap-in for any 97.

Genuine Stromberg 97 with vacuum port – Part Number 9510A-VP
New 97 base with vacuum port (comes with gaskets) – Part number 9514-VP

Developed in-house here at Stromberg Carburetor, the new vac-port equipped 97s provide vacuum through a small brass fitting located just behind the kicker linkage on the same side of the carburetor base (throttle body) as the typical small-block Chevy distributor vacuum canister. The fitting can be replaced with a small set screw (supplied) if engine needs change.

Like our cable choke and ‘push-throttle’ options, the new vacuum port makes it easier to use 97s in so many applications. To test the effects on our 350ci Chevy dyno motor, we disconnected the vacuum and locked the throttle at 1800rpm. Once reconnected, the vacuum-induced additional timing raised rpm to 2000 and increased torque by 4 ft-lb – all without adding more gas, of course. The exhaust sound changed considerably, too, so it obviously appreciated the extra timing.

Tech note: Unlike manifold vacuum, ‘ported vacuum’ is taken from just above the throttle plate to provide additional, vacuum-activated timing advance only at light load/part throttle conditions and not at idle or full throttle. Claimed benefits of vacuum advance include improved fuel economy and throttle response. Most aftermarket vacuum advance distributors are designed to work with ported vacuum, though the technical specification should always be checked. And of course, multiple 97 applications need only one vac-port equipped carburetor.

The new Genuine Stromberg 97 with vacuum port and the new vac port-equipped 97 base are available through the worldwide Stromberg dealer network. Further details, including pricing, and help with installation is available from us here at Stromberg by email or via the Stromberg Tech Center at www.stromberg-97.com.