Want to buy 1959 Tri-Power

[Paul]

Looking for a plug and play, ready to go tripower for 59 engine. Here is the hard part- want to buy At a reasonable price!!! Thanks.

[76eldo]

Do you know that you also need the correct vacuum canister for the firewall and the correct distributor?
I don’t have any parts but there are two other important parts on the carb setup that you need to look for. The vacuum switch and the vacuum diaphragm. Also the correct air cleaner.

Fuel line fittings are also hard to find.

Of course you can also do the setup with different parts if you are not worried about authenticity. I have detailed photos of you need of want them. I have 2 1960’s with factory tri power and the 59/60 stuff is the same.

[60eldo]

    L ve   got  2, for sale. But they need rebuild. One also has the carb and trans rod.

[Paul]

Jon how much for each?

[60eldo]

  I sent you a PM

[dinhnguyen57]

https://tucson.craigslist.org/pts/d/tucson-cadillac-eldorado-tri-power/6963765259.html

[Dan LeBlanc]

https://tucson.craigslist.org/pts/d/tucson-cadillac-eldorado-tri-power/6963765259.html

Wow, that's a work of art right there!

[Big Fins]

At that price it should be the Mona Lisa!

[dinhnguyen57]

What’s a fair price for a show quality rebuilt Tri Power?  It seems to be in the $3000-$3500 price range.

This particular one is not mine and I don’t know the seller.

Sometimes I wonder buying something at that price and installing it and not have it work right..... then what do you do?

[76eldo]

I have bought and sold a lot of these units but not in the past 3-4 years.
I see the asking prices really going up lately.
In my opinion that setup shown for $3600 may be worth about $3000 if the guy will take an offer.
If the carbs are correct, they are rebuilt and the vacuum switch and diaphragm are there and working. The fuel lines and fittings are almost impossible to find.  If you find a decent one that’s used and crusty it’s going to be about $1500. Plan on rebuilding all three carbs which is going to be $600 or more. If you need the diaphragm and vacuum switch that’s another $500 and the fuel lines and fittings are the other issue. The metal lines are reproduced but the correct fittings are basically impossible to find.
So if that set up can be had for $3000 it’s not a bad deal. You also need the different TV rod for the trans lockdown and the throttle rod.
The vacuum can for the firewall and distributor are different too.
Tri power cars also had a different rear ended ratio, basically the same as the AC cars.
It’s all in the shop manual.

[rwchatham CLC 21892]

Think Brian has it right at 3000 . Nice set but the bases shouldn’t be painted black and the diaphragm should be yellow Cad plated .

[76eldo]

See this plug in the manifold?  There is an unusual fitting that belongs in there with a check valve and a very small tube sticking out of it curved back towards the firewall. It feeds vacuum to your blower doors inside of the heater box.  It's missing and he put a plug in it but it's the same as on regular 4 barrel manifolds so it is available and not tri power specific, at least I think it's not.

Brian

[Paul]

Brian, does that mean non A/C cars cannot be equipped with tri-power or does there need to be some modifications made to the rear? If so, what? Is there a way to get around this?

[fishnjim]

Paul needs a good mechanic or hot rodder to assist him.   
He's asking; I want one, but don't want the install issues or the going price.
If you want one like that, buy a car with it in, but will cost a lot more.
If you want to convert yours, talk to someone who knows how.   WTB is not the place.
There's a bunch of tricks and ways, so if you just want show, originality, or go depends on how to proceed.
I have a '59 3x2 manifold, painted ready to go, I'll need ~$600 for it, no carbs, and you pay the shipping.
You can get carbs for it already rebuilt but have to make up your fuel block and linkage, TV rod, and air cleaner, etc.   
There are guys that do this, will sell you the set - up.  Such as www.vintagespeed.com  compare prices.   
It's a little more complicated on '59/60 because they use two different size carbs.   But a '58 or other years will fit.
ps:
I checked another source and the '59 dist is the same, the '60 is different.
The Rochester carbs are front and back = 2G, Center = 2GC

[76eldo]

No. That is not what I’m saying.
The tri power cars had a slightly higher rear end gear set. So did the AC cars. For different reasons.
The Tri power cars with a higher numerical gear set performed a little better. The AC cars were hauling around an additional 500 lbs at least so they geared them higher so they would take off a little better.

If you want a set of trips you can go the speed shop route and get the proper caddy manifold and three carbs that fit and use a progressive mechanical linkage and don’t worrry about the authenticity. We didn’t even talk about the $1500 air cleaner yet.