'62 - '63 T-Bird 390 factory tri power

[alt63bird]

(Edited/corrected 6/18/22) Your center carb should be C2SE 9510-A, List # 2497. The one you have is the Galaxie version, as evidenced by the part number C1AE (full-size Ford), but I'm confused about 9510-AA as C1AE 9510-AA is listed in parts books to be a Ford-Autolite 2-barrel carb for a '61 Y-block 292-2v. For the '61 Galaxie 390-6v package offered mid-production 1961, it should be C1AE 9510-AV, so you may want to recheck and post photos of your carb, air horns and metering block numbers. Numbers on the T-bird-issued carbs were unchanged during the tri-power offering on M-Series 340hp T-bird 390s from mid-1962 production Jan-Feb '62 through January 1963.

Difference between front C2SE 9510-E / List 2499 and rear C2SE 9510-B / List 2498 secondary carbs is the front one had a bracket for the anti-stall dashpot required for use with an automatic transmission. Galaxies were not available with a slushbox, hence front and rear were same. That's called out in the parts book listings - pictured is the carb listing from Ford's Master Parts Catalog (MPC) circa 1967-1968, Section 95, page 17 of the text portion.

Only the center carb should have the automatic choke assembly. Throttle arms are different between the Galaxie and T-bird primary carbs - the Galaxie version has an arm with a straight side and a narrow L-shaped plate riveted to it, while the T-bird arm forms a 'C' - see the picture below of the T-bird-style arm on the center carb and compare against the pictures of the C1AE 9510-AV / List 2436 carb.

Metering blocks also differ between the center and outboard carbs. The T-bird primary carb's metering block number is 3559, while the secondary carb's metering block number for both front and rear carbs is 3563.

Some info can be found on the T-bird tri-power setup by searching in the 1961-1963 T-bird section of the VTCI Forum at www. vintagethunderbirdclub.net and in VTCI's 1961-1963 Original Factory Specifications Manual.

BTW my 63 T-bird HT has the M-Series induction system - I finally found the correct carbs for it after having Joe Bunetic go through an incorrectly stamped set that I had him install the correct throttle arms on 17 years ago. I need to get the correct set restored and replace the ones I currently have on my hardtop.

[scicala]

Originally Posted by alt63bird

Your center carb should be C2SZ 9510-C, List # 2499. The one you have is the Galaxies version. Numbers were unchanged during its offering on M-Series 340hp T-bird 390s from mid 1962 production Jan-Feb '62 through January 1963.

Difference between front and rear secondary carbs is the front one had a bracket for the anti-stall dashpot required for use with an automatic transmission. Galaxies were not available with a slushbox, hence front and rear were same.

Only the center carb should have the choke. Throttle arms are different between the Galaxies and T-bird primary carbs - Galaxies version has a straight one while T-bird forms a 'C'. Metering blocks also differ but I don't have those numbers committed to memory right now.

Lots of info can be found on the T-bird tripower setup by searching in the 1961-1963 T-bird section of the VTCI Forum at www. vintagethunderbirdclub.net and in VTCI's 1961-1963 Original Factory Specifications Manual.

BTW my 63 T-bird HT has the M-Series induction system - I finally found the correct carbs for it after having Joe Bunetic go through an incorrectly stamped set that I had him install the correct throttle arms on 17 years ago. I need to get the correct set restored and replace the ones currently have on my hardtop.

Thank you very much for the valuable and hard to find info to all.
I've contacted the owner with this info and leaving it up to him on if he cares about 100% correct or not.
Pretty sure I can make it work with what he has, although it will resemble a Galaxie set up.
Those T-Bird center carbs (2499) have to be as rare as hen's teeth.

Thanks again, Sal