Trips! 3 Carbs…. “Wild … Man”!!

Since General Motors basically retired the carburetor around 1985, an explanation that tw0, three, four and sometimes more carburetors were used on the modified motors of the 1950’s and early 1960’s. They for the most part were replaced with fuel injection.

One legend from that era used a three carb set up and continued to do so until his retirement (though today at 91 years old he says he has not retired yet, still ready and waiting if a rides comes along) in the late 1960’s, named Elton Hildreth.

Being open-minded, he said he did try injectors once and went back to his carburetors. His record speaks for its self as he is the all time winner at the Vineland Speedway with wins listed at Old Bridge, Nazareth, Georgetown and other Northeastern speedways. Those who saw him in competition can validate his small block Chevvy 16J could do battle with the best of them! Joe Kelly with the potent Lincoln XL1, Wally Dallenbach with the Dick Barney Oldsmobile powered 14 and Tommie Elliott in the Racz’s Garage Ford 41, were his weekly combatants to name a few!

Pictured on display is the real deal, just as they were removed from his motor 40 years ago. Note the home-made adapters to allow the carbs to be mounted to the GM manifold, the reversed throttle linkage and breather mounts! The carbs are 3 Stromberg 48’s and not the 97’s, I believe, of choice.

Elton gives credit for the performance of his tri-power carb set-up to a gentleman name Gus Dealings (sp?) Gus had worked on bandleader Guy Lombardo’s Blue Birds, record setting speed boats. He built and tuned the carburetors on the engine. One interesting “quirk” was that Gus enjoyed watching the races at Vineland Speedway but hated going into the pits. He chose to watch the races from a regular seat in the grandstand. Therefore, on occasions when Elton wasn’t satisfied with the way the car was running, he would send someone over to talk to Gus, explaining what the car was doing. Elton says that Gus would tell them what changes to make on the carbs or timing, etc., etc. and

would be ‘right on the money” He said, “Gus had an ear that was unbelievable for picking up on how the motor was performing!”

Pictured also is the original Fenton fuel block and the Edelbrock small block manifold, used by Elton.

This Russ Dodge Senior Moment, activated by some old carburetors!

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