powerglide

[only"T"intown]

Has anyone ever used a powerglide trans with GN or a GN hybrid car? If so how did it do and with what gear?
Thanks,
Steve

 

[Louie L.]

Typically powerglides have been used in race only Buicks. The rule of thumb is that you do not want to use one unless the car weighs less than 3000lbs.

I believe the famous Buick Powered Metro runs one.

 

[only"T"intown]

Originally posted by Louie L.
Typically powerglides have been used in race only Buicks. The rule of thumb is that you do not want to use one unless the car weighs less than 3000lbs.

I believe the famous Buick Powered Metro runs one.

Why?
I'm sure you loose something but is it bottom end or top end? What race gear is used with one?

 

[Dusty Bradford]

If I had a TSM or TSO style car I would try one just to see how it would perform. You can run them in a heavy car 3400-3500# car but you have to spend some money to make them hold up. With under 800hp you could probably get by with a good 1.76 stock gear set but if you make a lot of power like the TSO guys you'll more than likely need a 1.80 straight cut planetary. You'll need whatever gear your combo needs to keep the rpm's where you want them on a 1/4 mile pass. High gear is the same 1.00 as a T-400.

The only problem I see is you may not make enough power with a stock block to get the car moving quickly with that low of a 1st gear ratio.

 

[only"T"intown]

I know its like comparing apples to oranges but I have always been a lover of large cars and have owned old impala's and caprices with the V8 and powerglide trans. You wouldn't hit high gear until around 50-60 mph or so when really dogging it with having a 3.08 gear. I'm sure you give up something either way with a powerglide either comming out of the hole or at the end of the track. Seems to me like it would work well in something like a Chevy Monza or something small like that and run a higher gear. The power to weight ratio would be improved over using the GN powerplant in a larger car so it should launch better off the line and the higher gear would help down the track.
JUST SEEMS TO ME.

 

[Dusty Bradford]

I'm using a powerglide in my Buick Regal with a 3.73 rear gear. But it's a turbo 383 chevy so it will make a little more power than the 3.8. In a car like mine, 1st gear in the t-400 is too low for the 10.5 tires so everybody goes with the glides.

 

[Nashty]

9.31 @ 147 in the Metro. It weighs 2300 with me in it.

Light cars like the glide. That high first gear keeps it well loaded. I've got an 8" convertor in it that is going to get swapped to a 9" or 9½" soon. I have 3.33 gears in the car and launch off the T-brake. Powerglides are much smaller than a 400 and use less power. They are also simple to adjust and repair. Finding a good 1.76 gearset is getting harder though.

I was really nervous about the PG but tried it on the advice of (2) smart turbo guys. I'm glad I did.

 

[cruzn57]

glide behind a V6

Scott Wile just put one in his toyota pick up,( under 3000 lbs)
haven't heard yet how it ran, I think he had ran a 10.09 or near that before with a turbo 400, and 3.00 gears, ( broke the turbo 400???)
I'm sure he will dial it in shortly, and let us know!
Right Scott??

I'm waiting too !!

cruzn57