I am already looking at Steve Spohn's cross member and torque arm, what else do I need for the conversion. Powerglide is from a 62 Impala and I do not have it yet (picking it up in 2 weeks)

So for all you tranny guru's I need some help.

Best kit to handle a transbrake and approximately 650 rwhp.

What do I need to beef this thing up, and who is the best suppliers for it.

If you have it installed with the kit above, where did you have the driveshaft manufactured? And would you be able to get another if asked.

Thanks
Sean

 

A powerglide is the same length as a TH350 which is very close to the same length as a 700R4. You can re-use the factory driveshaft.

How to beef it up? Change everything including the case. Chances are a stock PG will last but there are many weak parts for high HP.

I considered putting a PG in my race car but went with a TH400 instead.

If you plan on driving on the street, you won't like the PG. Many of the early cars that had PG tranny swapped them out for TH350's when the TH350 was released.

Glides are really only good for racing. With only 1 shift point, they're more consistant and the tranny is the lightest automatic available from GM.

 

most of my "in town" driving is less than 30 mph, but I am going through a lot of upgrades on the car at the moment. The reasons I am grabbing the powerglide is:

I need something with a transbrake

I need something close to where I am (Japan)

I don't do a lot of Highway cruising (Okinawa Japan has one freeway/toll road and the speed limit on there is 45 mph)

I need a transmission capable of handleing the power of a twin turbo conversion.

Sean

 

TCI makes some good transbrake kits.

Powerglides take almost no HP to spin.

Very light & strong.

You'll love it

 

Are they that close in length? I'm replacing the PG in a 1965 Impala SS Convertible with a 700R4, and if I don't have to have a new shaft made that's one less thing to worry about.

 

If you are replacing the PG with a 700R4, then the driveshaft will need to be cut.

 

the 'glide is about two inches shorter than the'R4, thus causing you to have a custom built crossmember, and a custom torque arm and driveline.

 

Wow this was brought back from the dead. As far as powerglides go they really arent any different on the street than a TH350 since they both have a last gear ratio of 1. I know I have one. The TH350 may be a little more gas efficient but not by much. TH350 became more popular due the fact it had a much more effective first gear. This can be overcome in a powerglide with the proper stall and cooling you will need when preventing it from burning up. From what I see the stock case is able to withstand 1000 hp. These guys use the stock case with hardened internals for up to 1250 hp.

http://www.nealtrans.com/racing-transmissions.html

 

Way back in 2002 when I replied to this post, I had a TH400 in my car. I've had a powerglide in it for a few years now. I love it in the race car. My converter stalls at around 6100 rpm. I launch at 4500. By the time the shift light comes on somewhere between the 330' and 660' mark, I shift to second and run it out the top end. One shift to make, less chance of a missed shift point.

My glide is a V8 version with the 1.76 first gear. There's a few other race modifications done to it like aftermarket turbo spline input shaft, clutch hub and servo piston.

 

Personally, I would never run a glide in anything, again. I've broken too many high $ glide parts to remember w/o crying. Every night I'm at the track I watch atleast 1 drag radial car or other fast non-street car drive out of a glide. Bill Futch(10.5 outlaw turbo car, 4.6X's 1/8) wasted 3 or 4 of the most outrageous, "strongest available" in 6 passes. I know they work well in lighter/milder bracket cars, but past that, I've had 3 that I gave away, 2 that sold for the cost of the aftermarket case(and they had high $ all aftermarket internals).
- I guess it all comes down to personal preference, but all that delay, sputer, throttle stop consistency crap you can have. I've watched my old man run 6.00-6.007(1/8 mile) all night long with a manually shifted 4 speed. Car didn't even have a tach......

- and yes, I feel better now