PowerGlide

Yet another n00b question but what's up with the powerglide tranny? I mean for drag racing it seems like its got way longer gear ratios when compared to the th350 and 700r4... and the PG being only a 2 speed? The gear ratios seems like it wouldn't do well off the line? Is it just run with super high rear end gear ratios- over 4.11 etc? Sorry I just don't completely understand the Powerglide.

On another note, I'm thinking of running a th350 but not sure if it will be streetable on the highway with only 3 gears and no OD. Thanks for all the input

The two speed power glide is a all around good tranny we use one in our race car, the first gear ratio is ether 1.76 or 1.84 and the 2nd gear is like a 1 to 1 ratio. hope this helps

Yet another n00b question but what's up with the powerglide tranny? I mean for drag racing it seems like its got way longer gear ratios when compared to the th350 and 700r4... and the PG being only a 2 speed? The gear ratios seems like it wouldn't do well off the line? Is it just run with super high rear end gear ratios- over 4.11 etc? Sorry I just don't completely understand the Powerglide.

On another note, I'm thinking of running a th350 but not sure if it will be streetable on the highway with only 3 gears and no OD. Thanks for all the input


The old 2 speed powerglide goes back to the 1960's for aluminum case and back to 1950's for cast iron case.
The aluminum PG did not do good in regular cars.
The soft shift into high gear always wiped out the direct clutches at a early age.
But if set up for racing it is one of the best.
MT

You can also set up the tranny so that you have extra clutches or even take a gear out and have like two first gears or even two 2nd gears depending on what king of racing you do :evillol:

Ok cool. But I still don't really understand why its so great compared to trannies like the th350 and 700r4? It just seems like the gear ratio of the PG would make it slow off the line?

Ok cool. But I still don't really understand why its so great compared to trannies like the th350 and 700r4? It just seems like the gear ratio of the PG would make it slow off the line?

Lot more to gear ratio than the transmission.
I am not into it but talk to the people that is.
A lot of them use the PG.
So it must work out good for them.
MT

yea i know, i don't understand why the PG is so popular with drag racing. Someone plz elaborate! Thanks so much.

There are alot of reasons that the pg is a better tranny, one is weight it weighs less then the t 350 and 700 r4 it can be modified easier. It is a simple tranny, band ver clutch. if set right it is one of the few auto tranny's that can be push started

Also two shift's is faster then 3 or four :evillol: , and there is a bunch of after market parts for the pg and rebuild kits for the tranny are around thirty dollars

Besides being lighter, PG's also "eat" or use less HP to operate than other transmissions, so more power goes to the wheels. For drag racing they run best with high stall converters and low rear gears. In a light weight car with a high revving engine this set up works great. In a heavy car with less HP they are not quite as spectacular. With only ONE shift, the 'glide is also easier to make consistent, which is the key in drag racing.

Cool. That makes alot of sense. Should have thought of it myself. lol.

What do ya'll think about puttin a PG behind a CSB 383 stroker puttin down about 470 hp/ft lbs all motor (spray or boost later to make 600+ numbers). The motor will probly make power to 6k rpm.

This will be goin in a newer model S10 and as streetable as possible. lol. What do ya think about this combo for drag race/ street? Thanks

The old 2 speed powerglide goes back to the 1960's for aluminum case and back to 1950's for cast iron case.
The aluminum PG did not do good in regular cars.
The soft shift into high gear always wiped out the direct clutches at a early age.
But if set up for racing it is one of the best.
MT
Always? Sorry to disagree, but in my family we had several cars with aluminum PGs, and except for a broken low band in a 64 Impala that was inexpensively fixed (try that on a modern automatic) they were trouble free and long lasting -- talking about well over 150K miles (try that on a modern automatic).

My wife's 64 Chevelle has a PG. She's had it since '73 and the tranny's never been out of the car. (did I mention -- try that on a modern automatic.)

Not a lot to go wrong with them and well built. As mentioned above, lose less HP. I like the 4 speed autos in my other cars, but I respect the PG.

Well i have a a pgh behind my late model engine which happenes to be a 388 and putting more horse power then that and is doing just fine in the roundy round

the powerglide is durable, simple, and light.and when built for racing as Rebel Racing has his, its all the more so.but if u were worried about whether or not a th350 would be streetable because of only having 3 speeds than u probable dont want a pg for ur driver, not if its a pg built only to help u go real fast in a drag race.a th350 can defintely be built to handle that power and be streetable.a th400 obviously can too, but it will add slightly more weight.

I understand completely. Thank you all.:grinno: