i'm wondering if anyone has a powerglide in a 3rd gen on the street? it seems to be the true work horse tranny in the long run with more and more power but i'm wondering if it can still cruise on the highway with a low-mid range punch motor. i know that taller gears would help but what gears would you run @ 500lb/500hp?

thx

 

Pretend you have a TH350 with a manual valve body. Start off in second gear and shift to high once you start moving. Once you start moving, even with a normal TH350, the tranny will rarely drop down from high gear. The advantage of a 3+ speed tranny is deeper gear reduction with the lower gears to get the vehicle moving and with more gears, it's easier to keep the engine in a specific rpm range through all types of driving.

There were many PG trannies on the street during the 60's and early 70's so there's nothing really wrong with them. Most were behind L6 engines and survived many miles.

With 500 hp/torque, you don't really need low gears but an OD is still nice for highway driving. High gear in a PG, TH350 or TH400 is all 1:1.

As for starting line accelleration, with enough torque from the engine, you don't need a low first gear to get moving. You could easily overpower the tires with too much torque. I get 1.4xx 60' times using a PG, 4.56 gears and 29.5" tall tires.

 

IMO-
- I have stated this before, but anyhow...
A glide is NOT a workhorse unless properly upgraded. I've been through many "fully built" units myself, and watched several $5000+ dollar, name brand units come apart on the first pass. I believe them to be a great bracket race tranny in a lighter vehicle, past that they are far to expensive to keep together with higher power levels.
- For a street car, you should atleast go with a 3 speed auto. The extra gear helps you get moving easier with less throttle, which equals better driveability and better mpg.

 

it sounds like with the weight of this car, a 3 speed is a good idea to get out of the hole. i can score a race built th400 for around $1250 or so... about $200 less for the 350 through transmission specialties...

unlike the 700r4 tranny, are these fairly simple to rebuild with better parts? a friend told me he's done a few but never to the level I need... that seems to be the cheapest option with a good manual.

thanks

 

here's what i found for tranny's ready built... not sure if i need a transbrake as a rookie bracket racer.

the t350

Transmission Specialties, Inc.

the t400

Transmission Specialties, Inc.

 

if you're planning on racing it, you're probably ahead to stick with an auto. - If you can't shift a manual without clutching or lifting off the go pedal, you'll be faster and more consistent with an auto. - If you go the route of full manual and a transbrake, you're streetability is basically gone and you'll need to upgrade a lot of other driveline to take the shock of the brake.

- unless you're going wild on power a t350 takes less power to pull and is lighter.

 

it'll be a 383 without any power adders so the t-350 rated up to 600hp should do the trick i think.

i'm pretty damn good with a manual but it seems to be even more of an expensive choice...