So I was thinking as I was out cruising my newly acquired 64 Fairlane. Brand new Powerglides are available but the 2 speed in my car is no longer around was it too weak? Don
The only way to make a powerglide live is to throw away every single original part (including the case) and replace them with aftermarket stuff. Drag racers put up with them for the light weight, not the strength. Most of my racing friends had two spares in the trailer. I didn't - I ran torqueflites...
The Ford-o-matic was a light-duty box (introduced in 1950 or so..) that fell by the wayside as a part of evolution. The Powerglide hung in much longer since it was reborn when it went to the aluminum version. They were light and strong for street use. I helped someone set up one as a Clutch-Glide in a circle track car years back. It worked very well. Bob
I would disagree with your statement. In stock form a PG can handle quite a bit of power. Factory put them behind big blocks. They do have weak links and many of the drag racers have found them and developed fixes over the years. A race ready PG is actually not that expensive, and many use a good portion of factory parts. The real high power guys (blown alcohol for example) would be most all aftermarket parts. A PG is also used because in light cars the lower first gear of a 3 speed is not requried and can actually cause the tires to be blown off. The slighly higher first (low) in a PG softens that hit enough. Having only one shift is better for consistency than two shifts, mostly critical in bracket racing, but applies for all racing really. The shorty glide is a common trans used in rail drag cars and sometimes found in drag boats. Another feature of the PG is that it uses less power internally than a 3 speed auto and is small and lightweight. Good features for drag racing. The small size can be benficial for swapping into hot rods with limited room, but it is best for a lighter weight car.
Totally untrue. Also which of the aluminum case Powerglides do you mean? You do know that there are P/G with a 1.82 First gear and then the more common 1.76 First gear. Yes, the 1.82 are not as strong to a point as the 1.76, but to just throw out your statement you made above is totally without merrit.
My breakfast buddy changed to a PG behind his 700hp Ford small block in '62 Ranchero drag car (truck). Currently runs 9's and loves the PG...
What comes out of the aftermarket as a 'Powerglide' is not much more a GM factory 'Powerglide' than a modern top-fuel engine is a Chrysler Hemi. They are both very old designs that proved particularly suitable for one narrow application and have been embraced and developed for that purpose. The F-o-M and PG even when new were the bottom-feeder cheapest-of-the-cheap automatics. No automaker would build a 2-speed automatic transmission for street use in anything more than a golf cart these days - even a five-ratio box these days is very old news.
I had a friend with one in his boat, gave him a great hole shot but then when he just wanted to cruise it dropped the rpms down nicely. I don't understand why more boats don't have at least 2 ratios..... The simplicity of it is very attractive for a good hp/weight ratio car to me.....
actually the 5,6, and 7 plus speed automatics of today have more to do with keeping the little engines is a very narrow rpm range to maximize fuel milage and performance. A rat engine doesn't really care for lots of gears. The glide works well. it is after all a design based on transmissions found in army tanks at the time. In the old days I knew a lot of guys who when forced by the folks to drive the family hand me down sedan would pop the chevy into neutral run the rpms waaayyy up and drop it in gear. I never saw one come apart.
Yes and no they put a 6 speed trans behing the 390 Hp hemi in 1500 ram trucks and that is by no means a little engine with a narrow powerband. I do agree that they help with MPG and performance. Hell the Pentastar has 300 HP and still gets an 8 speed trans in the RWD cars.
I have a friend running a mostly stock powerglide (has hardened turbo input shaft and better soft parts) in a 66 Nova with a 600 hp 468, run's 10.40's all day. Seems to hold up great I think it's been in there for 10-12 years
Yup, powerglides are definitely obsolete junk..... However, I ran one with a stock case, pump, and planetaries/output shaft behind a 615cu in, BBC with no problems 5.30 eighth mile, like 8.60 quarter mile. I did have a turbo splined input shaft, a trans brake and a kevlar blanket. The trick is in the extra (thinner) clutches/steels, kevlar band and increased servo pressure (and a cooler).
So when it comes rebuild time are there any goodies for the Ford-O-Matic? Or will I be lucky just to find replacement parts? Don
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