Powerglides

What do you guys think about powerglides, they are obviously nothing fancy like an M22 or a B&M Hydro, but how do they hold up? I know they are popular with alot of drag racers. I realize that a stock Powerglide and a racing Powerglide are light years apart, but there must be some attributes of the stock transmission that make it a popular base for a racing trans. I'm not really to concerned with performnance as much as strenghth, It would go behind a Mild 283 in a daily driver. The reason I ask about a Powerglide rather than a TH350 or 400 is becuase I have a powerglide, and it was free.

 

They are the biggest hunk of junk ever...........now ship that free one to Brandy c/o her insanity.

I love mine. Finally gave up after I screwed the pooch......but gosh that trans held up to EVERYTHING I threw at it. Was also in my daily driver. The aluminum ones were used in racing, I ran a cast iron glide, behind a 350. I'll fix mine and put it back in the car, I loved it that much.
**x

 

Think about it , Chevy ran powerglids for years behind 283 engines go with it its free . But have a guy who knows glids go threw it be safe cheap rebuild..

 

Damn good transmission, ran em at the strip for years. Remember when you could buy a good takeout in the local paper for twenty bucks.

 

sissy

 

So I'm ***uming your going to change the rear, I not to sure if you can change the buick rear to an open yoke once you take out the torquetube.

 

I was going to(and I still might) adapt the 283 to the stock Buick 3 speed in my 53. For a while on my Buick I couldn't get the trunk open (don't ask me why because I dont know) then on Saturday Joe(Sixcarb) got it open effortlessly and I was delighted to find a ton of ****, there was an old pedal car, a single barrel chevy carb, and old gauge panel(I will post pics soon to find out what it is) , a bunch of crusty floor mats, and a power glide, It looks like it was carefully put away, so I don't think its junk.

 

Can I have the pedal car for getting this thread rolling?
**x

 

I talked to a guy, he said 200 hp on a series 40 trans, is risky, especially when I feel pressured to match you peel for peel, but we will see, anyway though the series 40 bolt holes are the same width, but about a 1/4 of an inch shorter than your trans, so go ahead and buy the adapter. If I went with the glide I'd throw in a Chevy rear.

 

i have to agree with joe on this one.

 

My finger is fine thanks for asking.

 

Cheap, reliable, and easy to rebuild. I'd run it if you're not looking for gas mileage (overdrive) or to run a really low 1st gear (good in heavy vehicles)

Let me know if you need rebuild info - been running them on circle tracks and have been inside of them more times than I care to...

 

You will love it. Just make sure you hook your downdraft up correctly.

 

Thanks for the input guys and gal.

 

Powerglides are easy to build, cheap and pretty much indestructable! I had a powerglide behind a 500hp 400 small block in a 65 chevy truck, well my shifter started messing up, I accidently shifted the powerglide into reverse going 55 MPH, when I was racing one day, the rear wheels locked up and it slid about 60 feet before I could get my composure back to bump it into drive. another day I hit reverse again ,but I was only going 35 MPH, then I fixed the shifter. I never had to do anything to that ****** as long as I had the truck!!

 

<has iron case one for sale(was behind an I-6)

 

Only issue that no one had addressed is the two speed feature. Not a biggie but most people like to have three speeds. The extra gear makes the vehicle that much more flexible in everyday driving situations.


Frank

 

Doesn't bother me none. My Chubby Chebby runs like a Deere! Just got to get used to the sound........which I currently miss.
**x

 

I was gonna mention that....a 283 with a powerglide and gears you can drive on the highway with, is a slug. My kid's *****in' 70 camaro has the sportin 250 straight 6 and the powerslide and 2.73s out back, and it takes a month or two to get up to speed. and it's a light car.

 

No way. I have the stock rearend in my 58 Chevy with powerglide/350 up front and she moved like a sum*****........til she creamed herself out. I actually had people argue that I was CONCEALING a big block under the hood. Yeah right. dirty, leaky, oil burning 350 and nothing more.
**x

 

hmmmm....my brother's 58 wagon with the 283 and stock 3.36 gears and pg was a slug, putting in a th350 sure woke it up.

 

Anybody care to comment on the early ones, with the intermediate bell housing?

I know rebuilds are spendy, what else should a person look at before using one?

I have a freeby here. I'd like to know if I should have left it as a freeby. It shifts through all the indents. The rest seems to be in good condition.

What should I know?

 

You said a glide behind a 6 what else do you think would happen slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

 

the old iron glides are just like the newer ones, only heavier, and they have a lot more places to leak from!

although if you are running a 235 and want a slushbox it's about the only thing you'll find that will fit (there were 4 speed hydros behind the 6s in trucks in the 50s, but they're a tad scarce)