Powerglide Experiences

What exactly is the make and model of your 2100 lb vehicle and 500HP beast of an engine?

Rear wheel drive?

Have you made any modifications to the drive shaft(s) and differential yet or are they stock standard? Can you even fit the engine in to the engine bay (have you checked)?

From my limited understanding of vehicle modification, you may need to make modifications to your differential, gearing and drive shaft to ensure the extra torque doesn't break your vehicle regardless of whether or not you are going to use it for street racing or not.

Definitely a case of "Please supply more interesting information and pictures"

Sure, it's a T-bucket, engine is a Gen I SBC 350 crate with a blower and Holley 750 carb. I'm driving the car now with a TH400 tranny, but am redoing the cockpit and would like to minimize the space needed for the tranny. Rest of driveline is bulletproof.

The PG is probably the way to go. But with the limited gear choices, lugging the engine becomes more common. Is there enough bottom end to the engine to allow low RPM operation? Send pictures. The PG will need to be beefed to handle the HP. Watch your stall speed, and additional cooler size may be needed. Good luck. Send pictures.

The torque curve is very broad, so I should be OK at low speeds, but I better check the 1st gear (I think there are 2 choices) against the TH400's. I'll go with one of the aftermarket rebuilt units, to get the converter and HD parts right. Any recommendations re company? I think someone makes a "shorty" version, but don't know how that works.

If you're buying a fully built PG, you will usually get to choose between a stock 1.76 low or a 1.82. TCI sells a 1.82 competition glide for around $900. You really don't need all that transmission with the engine you have, but they don't sell too many basic street prepped glides anymore. Don't bother with the shorty unless you have a driveshaft length issue (engine set-back). You don't have the HP to break extension housings.

A stock TH-350 with a shift-kit would be plenty for your engine, and would be lighter and more efficient than the TH-400 you run now, which is good for a big inch engine in a heavy car. But, being way under 3000# puts you in the range where a PG can/will be quicker and faster in the quarter.

But that assumes you are geared for best 1/4 mile performance. To run taller gears and still launch like you want, the TH-350 might be the best answer... It will come down to tire height/gearing/desired highway rpm.

You can probably also get away with a little less stall with the 350 since 1st gear is lower (2.52 or aftermarket 2.75). Or at least a tighter (larger o.d. typically) converter rated at the same stall. An 11" 3000 vs. an 8" 3000 drive *much* differently...

Yeah, this is strictly a street car. Rear end now is 3.0 for cruising. I'm guessing the glide is smaller than a 350 and that is my main interest. Would the shorty give me any more space in the cockpit?

The shorty is going to shorten the tail-shaft housing length, and diameter. If you want specific dimensions, stop by a shop that rebuilds any decent amount of transmissions, bring a box of donuts, and I bet they will be glad to let you measure some of their transmissions . NICE looking car. Good look.

Thanks, Bob, for the info and compliment. I'm moving to St. Paul, MN this month (gotta go where the work is) and will find a tranny shop and do just that.