Oh ye of much wisdom, I seek your advice. I recently acquired a 1953 Bel Air by trading my beloved big block 78 Cutlass. I've been keeping an eye out for something I could take my girl to car shows in this summer and just poot around in. The Bel Air had sat for a few years before I happened upon it, but after fresh gas and a new battery she woke up well enough. Long story short, two days after trading the cast iron powerglide lost high gear and I just about didn't make it home. Disappointed obviously, I set about locating a shop that could rebuild the PG and have received some really wild quotes (3K and up)...and in speaking with people I really didn't find anyone that could give me a "yes..we can rebuild that..no problem". For the most part I got "welllll...hmmm. we could probably handle that, but it's gonna cost you." Honestly, I didn't care for the PG anyhow. While it was fun experiencing something new...it's nowhere near worth 3k+ to retain it..not to mention I need 50+mph capability. So here is where I'm at in preparation for this upgrade: I have a 700r4 that's never been installed. It's shift kitted and upgraded appropriately. I am sticking with the 235 because it is different, slick, and I just dig the sound. Here's what I know: A 700r4 is not the ideal trans, I get it. But I'm gonna use it. It will be a cruiser for summer weekends, not an everyday driver. The 235 is power limited. I'm not after power. I'm keeping the 235. I'm in love with it. I'll need the adapter plate, flywheel, starter, etc. Kit. I'll need to replace the rear axle and torque tube with an open drive rear and drive shaft. I'm not crystal on this..but from what I've read a 4x4 S10 rear will be the easiest, with least fab, and retains the bolt pattern. Here's what I need help with: Someone sanity checking my rear selection. S10 the best way to go? Let's say I get the 700r4 bolted up to the little six. I get the rear end in place. Guess I'll need a custom cross member. Here's the thing I'm mostly worried about....the 235 has an Offy triple carb manifold. Any ideas on how a fella might be able to hook up the TV cable to that set up? I appreciate all the help I can get. I understand there are easier options out there, but this is my goal: A 1953 Bel Air with a 235 backed by a 700r4 for very occasional cruising.
Wow a stove bolt with speed parts on it very cool. That's a good score what's the name on the intake? If you don't have any luck on the main board there is a 216 Social Forum here on the hamb and Mo is the guru of Chevy inline 6 cylinders. You will get a fast response.
Well everything can be done. But! You'll need an adapter a custom cross member? Open drive rear. You can go with a short turbo 350 and the adapter. You can make the 53 crossmember work. The TV cable on the 700 will be a project itself? The 350 is eaiser and the setting is not near as critical. IMHO
I wonder how hard it is to find a good used 53-54 Powerglide? Or the parts from a 3 speed car that someone is going to an automatic?
Have you considered trading your 700r4 for a 200r4? The 200r4 is physically smaller (easier to install), has a more even gear spread, and is probably better matched to your '53/235 application than an kitted 700r4.
I dont understand the expence of the rebuild on the powerglide ? it not that much diffrent then a 350 just a rear pump and bigger band WTF ? for the 17% OD the 350 is a better option and cheaper too.
I'm not a big Powerglide guy either but I thought I might note, you should be able to find a good working one for $2-$300. I've seen people have a hard time giving them away. You will have a lot of work and expense putting the 700r4 in.
The local guys apparently don't want anything to do with rebuilding a PG, so they are pricing themselves out of that job. That is ridiculous wanting $3K to rebuild it, maybe they have never done one and don't want to even try? TH350 would be much easier to install and cheaper to use in the long run.
"A 700r4 is not the ideal trans, I get it. But I'm gonna use it." one thing I've learned over the years is to not do something the hard way " just because". sell or trade the 700r4 and get something that will take less work and less $$. there are a lot of very experienced guys on this site, listen to them.
The PG are used a lot in 1/4 mile racing these days, I'm surprised you couldn't find anyone to build it?. Yeah, $3k was a guesstimate you would be at the losing end of. TH350 would be cheap, adequate, and trouble free in terms of retrofit.
I don't know where the trans will end up adapted behind the 6; but we put a 700 behind a sbc in a 54 using the trans crossmember modification kit from chassis engineering, easy to do. Also used a 4x4 s10 rear. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
The early power glides had a bad habit of shearing the pin on the rear pump drive, all we did was pull the extension housing back and put a new pin in we usually used a nail simple fix. This may be all that's wrong with it, then you can ride while you find a alternative.
700r4 will be some work, but I think it will perform well. I can't see your carb linkage, if it's direct and not progressive the tv cable adjustment shouldn't be a problem. Getting a bracket mounted up will take some thinking. Here's a good write up on adjustment and what's needed for a mounting bracket. http://www.jakesperformance.com/sit...performance.com/TV_Cable_Setup_Info.html#2622
A race PG capable of running ridiculous ET's is less than that! with your set up and goals,do you need an OD?
Yous guys keep bringing up race powerglides, This is an old CAST IRON trans ,nothing like the aluminum glide they build for racing. Anyway,I thought you could hook the 700r4 on a manual switch to get rid of the cable and run it that way, or am I mistaken?
Just wondering if anyone else sees the hypocrisy of trashing every poor soul thinking of installing a "cookie-cutter" SBC, regardless of cost savings or ease of installation, but insisting that bluelion run a "cookie-cutter" TH350 because the 700r4 would be too expensive and too difficult to install. Both have the same output spline, flexplate bolt pattern and engine mounting pattern so they both need the same parts to swap. Tom Langdon at Stoveboltengines has the complete kit. As for the TV cable bracket, they are not too difficult to fabricate. Just follow the same geometry as the original bracket. Or it can be purchased also. Oh Yeah.......the man has the 700r4 in hand and already rebuilt........no cost or time to acquire.. JOMO Just old man's opinion
Check with Walden Fabrication for mounts and Bowtie Overdrives to see if they have done the carb connection.
X2 on parts from Walton Fabrications. I would go with the 700R4, over anything else. It will fit under the stock floor. I have done several. All satisfied customers. Find a rear axle (like a 76-'ish Camaro, or 4x4 S10) with 3.73:1 gears. Put the brakes on the firewall.
^ what he said. The second-gen Camaro rear doesn't need the perches moved at all, but they're a lot deeper than the stock springs. I've read that either 68-74 or 75-79 Nova may also drop right on with the locator hole moved and they arent' as deep over the springs.
Wow..figured id check to see if anyone responded before heading to bed. Thanks for all the input fellas. I definitely want to to utilize the 700r4 and stick with the 235. I think itll be pretty unique and worth the challenge. I believe the quotes were so high due to the rebuilders figuring worst case scenario and big parts needing replacement. And the failure was definitely more than a sheared pin...I was coming up a very light grade and felt it starting to slip, which worsened to high rpms and no movement. Put it down into low and had to creep home, where she puked a quart of the blackest, most foul burnt smelling fluid ive ever witnessed. My novice guess is that it sat without moving for a few years which affected the bands/discs/whatever. Obviously id prefer to just rebuild it and be done...but like I said...high quotes, and every option for a cast iron powerglide on craigslist has been junk. Even though its a four door, the car is pretty good shape..and has a great history thats all documented. I figure its worth the investment and stress to do it up special. Sounds like the TV cable might be possible after all. Its got a triple carb Offenhauser intake with Rochester singles. Its an all at once linkage, not progressive. Ill snap a few pics tomorrow so you gents have a better idea of what im looking at. Thanks again fellas.
Yes sir, I agree...and Im not being bull headed. I just want something a bit different from the others Ive seen. Shes not my daily driver, and really the only project I have. I realize and respect the experience and knowledge of the Hamb dwellers, hence my coming here. Unless its going to involve heavy fabrication or cutting up floors, Im up for the challenge.
Build your car the way you want to build it, you'll enjoy it more. My suggestion, take a trip over to the 49-54 forum at chevytalk.org. I think you'll find all the info and help there to do this.
One consideration is the age of the rebuild on the 700R4 that you have. Sitting on a shelf too long will dry out seals, so you might end up having to go into it to reseal the trans. Go here for TV cable adjustment and bracket fabrication measurements. The link posted earlier didn't work for me. http://www.cpttransmission.com/tech_tvcable.htm
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