I have looked all over my powerglide trying to find ID numbers. It is still in the car, but I have looked as best I can down both sides and around the pan and can't find any number at all. I saw one post that said the numbers are on the p***enger side of the pan, but I think I might have an aftermarket pan. Any ideas? I just am trying to determine what it is and a bit of history as to when it was manufactured.
First of all, is it a 25 or 28 inch long Powerglide? Is the output shaft a course or fine spline. The numbers and letters on the side of the pan, if it's a stock pan, will tell the story.Look closely as they are only stamped lightly. A fine spline output shaft will put it at about 1966/67; prior to that they were course spline. Are there four holes in the bell housing, or is there a "turbine-like housing covering the "vaned" torque converter (air cooled), or is it fluid cooled? There are many different shift linkages and kick-down/throttle pressure linkages, so that probably won't help to know, and if it has an aftermarket shifter, then that's moot anyway. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
Haven't had the shaft off to look at the shaft, but I can measure the length. I will also look closer at the pan for some numbers. The pan does say "Powerglide" on the bottom, so it may not be aftermarket. Shifter is aftermarket, so no help there. Thanks Butch, got some more to check. -Glenn
That is an aftermarket pan; chrome? 62-64 p***enger cars used a 25 inch long Glide. The Chevy II/Novas from 62 on used the 28" long Glide, as did 65 on, full size, p***enger cars. Trucks also used the Glide, and there's even a 32 inch long, truck application Glide (never seen one myself). In order to know the first gear ratio, 1.82 or 1.76, you'd need to know what it originally came in, or measure the trans input shaft; 1.82 is 12 5/8, 1.76 is 12 7/8 inches long, and are't interchangeable. There are aftermarket input shafts that are universal. You can also tell the low gear ratio by the planetary input drive gear, or the planetary gear set itself. Don't imagine you want to tear things apart just to find that out however, and it really makes no difference anyway, other than the 1.76 is stronger. Aluminum Glides were made 62-73. I'm currently building a race glide for a friends son to go behind a 606 CID BBC; he won't listen to me when I keep telling him to use a TH400. He does't want to pay for an aftermarket case, and there's the biggest problem; that and the stock planetary he also wants to keep; it may last a couple of races before something implodes, most likely the planetary. Sometimes, the only way to learn is the hard way I guess. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
Thanks again Butch, you have some great Glide knowledge! I am the 4th owner of this car (built in the early 90s) and I have been have some difficulties building some history for the car. I have spoken with the last 2 owners a lot, but I have not had much luck with getting much from the 1st owner. I do know that he had a lot of work done at a shop and was not much of a "gear head" and get a sense that he kind of let the shop do whatever they wanted and then he wrote them a check. I still like the car a lot and will continue to tinker (even though it is really close to just how I want it now). -Glenn
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