98% or 99% of the time, you are going to use either one single-barrel on the tri-power if progressive linkage, or the equivalent of a 2-barrel on the Clifford. Either way, the delivery is from the center of the manifold, and neither is really any better than the other. Each has plusses and minuses.
At WOT, the tri-power is better for fuel distribution.
An alternative is to connect the tri-power to use all 3 carbs all the time instead of progressive linkage. This setup has drawbacks, though, just like any combination.
The most important question that you need to ask is "what conditions is the engine going to operate within MOST of the time?" The answer to it should help guide your choice of manifold and carbs. And don't forget that your choice of internal components (cam, head flow and compression ratio) has a big impact on how a given induction system works. It's very easy to over-carb an engine. That's one reason to approach the tri-power with caution, especially with non-progressive linkage.
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David
newbie #4153
