250:, and Chevrolet light trucks using a 1.76:1 reduction planetary gear set, instead of the usual 1.82:1. With a 3.31 axle, Car and Driver magazine noted a full-throttle up shift speed of 76 mph (122 km/h) to direct with the 409-4bbl 340 hp (250 kW) engine in a contemporary road test. Most of the V8/Powerglide transmissions came with the 1.76 gear set. One notable exception was the
333:
Turbo-Hydramatic series of transmission in 1973. The
Aluminium Powerglide is still used today as a racing transmission of choice by many racers mainly for the fact that it only shifts once, and for its extreme durability. It is also possible to purchase all the parts needed to build an Aluminium Powerglide from scratch from most racing parts vendors.
457:
The
Powerglide used a P-N-D-L-R selector sequence through 1957, changed in 1958 to the now-standard P-R-N-D-L sequence. The earlier sequence had been criticized on safety grounds for placing reverse after a forward gear, instead of having neutral between reverse and the forward ranges. For example, a
238:
The 1950 through 1952 Powerglide transmissions did not automatically shift between low and high (direct drive) which made for very sluggish take-offs and many drivers started in "Low" and shifted to "Drive" at about 30–40 mph (48–64 km/h). The 1953 and later units when in "Drive" started in
518:
racing. In the first few years after introduction, they became known as the "Slip-N-Slide
Powerglide", due to the fluid coupling, as opposed to the mechanical coupling of a clutch-driven gearbox, and the "Positive-Pop transmission". This last is due to the characteristic "bump" or "pop" which occurs
427:
Prior to 1967, transmission ID numbers contained the plant prefix code, month and date of production (expressed numerically) and a shift code (D = Day, N = Night). From 1967 on, the ID number contained the transmission type or plant prefix, Date (coded below) and a shift code. The constants in
332:
case; after 1963, the "Aluminium
Powerglide" substituted aluminum versions of the case and several other parts. Early models were air cooled, and later 60's versions used a fluid cooler in the radiator. The Aluminium Powerglide, and Tempestorque was used from 1962 until it was replaced with the
497:
Many
Powerglides share the same length, 27 spline output shaft, and transmission mounting as the THM 350; thus, the transmissions are easily interchangeable for owners wanting three speeds instead of two. Other Powerglides came with an incompatible 16 spline output shaft.
439:
The transmission identification number or source serial number (chassis VIN) is usually located close to the transmission code. This number will contain a division identification number, the model year, and the assembly plant and production sequence (last 6 digits) of the
221:
produced 1968-1970 by Kaiser-Jeep and widely used as delivery vehicles by the United States Post Office. When introduced on upper-level
Chevrolet models in 1950, the Powerglide represented the first automatic transmission offered in a low-priced automobile; in contrast,
246:, primarily for use in the new model Chevy II, which required a lightweight transmission for its compact body, and discontinued the cast iron Powerglides in 1963. A heavy duty version of Aluminium Powerglide was offered for passenger cars equipped with the
474:. The Turboglide, only offered with V8 engines, was more expensive (by about $ 50) than the Powerglide and did not have wide acceptance, in part due to failures in 1957-58 models, which were addressed by a significantly upgraded version for 1959.
300:
was introduced as a light-duty companion to the Turbo-Hydramatic 400, and made available on virtually all
Chevrolet cars and trucks with six-cylinder or small and medium-sized V8 engines, as well as intermediate sized cars of other GM divisions.
379:. It was available on the Nova four-cylinder engine, and on the Turbo-Thrift Sixes for Camaro as well as Nova. Despite its low introductory price of US$ 68.65 ($ 601 in 2023 dollars ), most buyers apparently considered the
458:
driver could easily overshoot L and go into R, possibly causing permanent damage and/or catastrophic failure, although it was necessary to lift up on the shift lever in order to shift into reverse.
522:
Currently Robert
Campisi from Australia holds the World Record for the fastest run using a Powerglide transmission, clocking 5.95s at 260 mph in his Twin Turbo Ford Mustang in September 2011.
387:
installations very rare. Apparently, the transmission wasn't very durable, since it depended on the driver's ability to shift between gears in a way that wouldn't damage the unit. After 1971,
320:. Its simple and robust design has led drag racing enthusiasts to work with it, giving the Powerglide an effective service life of nearly five decades past its intended obsolescence.
239:
low and automatically up shifted to high at a speed determined by the throttle opening. By the mid-1950s, more than half of all new
Chevrolets were sold with Powerglide.
470:, an automatic transmission with concurrent fluid-driven turbines, whose design was similar to that of Buick's Flight Pitch Dynaflow, subsequently called Triple Turbine
357:. This unit was basically Powerglide without the vacuum modulator, requiring the driver to manually shift gears between Low and High. The quadrant indicator on
610:
How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a
Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda
123:
265:
The Powerglide continued to serve as Chevrolet's main automatic transmission through the 1960s, when a new three-speed automatic transmission called
715:
292:. By the late 1960s, demand for two-speed automatic transmissions was dwindling as buyers were demanding three-speed units (Ford, Chrysler and
747:
645:
752:
29:
630:
How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States
485:, using the basic design principles of Powerglide was optional in the rear-engined, air-cooled, horizontally opposed six-cylinder
328:
Two primary types or versions of the Powerglide were made. The "Cast Iron Powerglide" transmission introduced in 1950 featured a
116:
316:. They were also used in the DJ-5 'Dispatcher' Jeeps sold for light commercial use, and best known for their service with the
757:
677:
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92:
109:
45:
441:
97:
230:
car buyers had to wait until 1954. The transmission was simple and very durable, which satisfied customers.
637:
617:
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50:
346:
68:
20:
247:
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a nuisance to shift, and for a hundred dollars more they could get fully automatic Powerglide, making
304:
The Powerglide lingered on as a low-cost automatic transmission option primarily for the six-cylinder
395:
and continued to offer Powerglide until 1974, when all engines could be ordered with the three-speed
531:
87:
590:
471:
701:
665:
296:
had already switched entirely to three-speed automatics by this time). In 1969, the three-speed
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608:
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and V8 engines. Holden vehicles fitted with Chevrolet V8 engines used the 1.76 ratio gear-set.
194:
181:
77:
64:
206:
689:
313:
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8:
227:
55:
36:
678:
Power Glide: From the February, 2009 issue of Chevy High Performance By Douglas R. Glad
546:
482:
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175:
365:. The driver would start the car in "1st," then move the lever to "Hi" when desired.
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486:
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285:
266:
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Post-67 Example: P9E03 - (P = TYPE, 9 = year (1969), E = Month, 03 = Day of Month)
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604:
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372:
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Although it is a very old design, the Powerglide still has a strong following in
293:
217:
market with Chevrolet powertrains. They were also used with Nova engines in the
213:
factory in 1953. Powerglides were used extensively on Pontiacs produced for the
376:
309:
305:
254:
version of the transmission, which offered only the 1.82 ratio and was used by
198:
741:
515:
432:
Pre-67 Example: C213N - (C = Cleveland Powerglide, February 13, Night Shift)
716:"Video: Australia's quickest turbo car – Rob Campisi CV Performance Mustang"
259:
414:
Powerglide transmissions were cast with the word Powerglide along the body
511:
507:
428:
decoding the trans ID number are the date the transmission was produced.
423:
Chassis VIN Number stamping or "source serial number"- beginning in 1962
536:
467:
210:
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342:
329:
274:
243:
202:
155:
82:
510:
due to its strength and simplicity. Powerglides are also popular in
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until it was phased out after the 1973 model year, replaced by the
269:(1965 introduction) began to be phased in. They were introduced in
209:
models also used this automatic transmission after the fire at the
690:
Denny's Driveshafts - Output Spline Shafts for Chevy transmissions
218:
643:
270:
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214:
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compact, available for all years of its production (1960–69).
226:
did not offer their automatic transmission until 1951, while
420:
Assembly Date Code Stamping - can be stamped anywhere...
407:
General Motors transmissions have markings to identify;
242:
In 1962, GM started building Air Cooled Powerglides in
519:as the transmission is put into gear from neutral.
284:
such as the 283 ci engine, and the third-generation
411:Casting numbers on the case and extension housing.
739:
568:American Cars, 1946–1959 Every Model Every Year
466:From 1957 to 1961, Chevrolet also produced the
371:was only offered on low-horsepower engines for
205:from January 1950 through 1973, although some
570:. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers.
117:
596:
280:Usually, Powerglides were coupled with the
258:in Australia behind their Australian built
565:
124:
110:
713:
623:
603:
646:"Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–"
740:
702:1953 repair manual to show simplicity
644:Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.
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444:(VIN) stamped onto the transmission.
748:Automotive transmission technologies
13:
14:
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753:Automatic transmission tradenames
402:
452:
201:. It was available primarily on
566:Flory, Jr., J. "Kelly" (2008).
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707:
695:
683:
671:
659:
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1:
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442:vehicle identification number
298:Turbo Hydramatic 350 (THM350)
758:General Motors transmissions
638:American Antiquarian Society
618:American Antiquarian Society
472:(full technical description)
290:inline four-cylinder engines
7:
704:; Retrieved April 27, 2011.
680:; Retrieved April 27, 2011.
668:; Retrieved April 27, 2011.
666:Transmission identification
593:; Retrieved April 27, 2011.
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21:Powerglide (disambiguation)
10:
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591:GM automatic transmissions
286:inline six-cylinder engine
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16:Motor vehicle transmission
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341:For the 1968 model year,
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146:
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532:List of GM transmissions
353:marketed under the name
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248:409 cubic inch V8 engine
30:Automotive transmissions
714:Hubertus (2011-09-11).
195:automatic transmission
722:. Performance Driving
720:Internet Driving News
93:Continuously variable
314:Turbo Hydramatic 250
267:Turbo-Hydramatic 400
19:For other uses, see
277:the previous year.
547:Corvair Powerglide
483:Corvair Powerglide
478:Corvair Powerglide
448:Example: 19N500001
417:Date Casting Codes
308:and four-cylinder
577:978-0-7864-3229-5
318:US Postal Service
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306:Chevrolet Nova
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726:11 September
724:. Retrieved
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651:February 29,
649:. Retrieved
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393:Torque-Drive
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369:Torque-Drive
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359:Torque-Drive
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355:Torque-Drive
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337:Torque-Drive
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197:designed by
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152:Manufacturer
622:1700–1799:
602:1634–1699:
508:drag racing
349:version of
219:DJ-5A Jeeps
211:Hydra-Matic
88:Dual-clutch
56:Preselector
742:Categories
553:References
537:Turboglide
512:mud racing
468:Turboglide
462:Turboglide
361:cars was,
351:Powerglide
260:6-cylinder
191:Powerglide
162:Production
142:Powerglide
46:Sequential
391:canceled
389:Chevrolet
343:Chevrolet
330:cast iron
275:Cadillacs
244:aluminium
203:Chevrolet
182:automatic
165:1950–1973
156:Chevrolet
83:Manumatic
78:Hydraulic
65:Automatic
627:(1992).
607:(1997).
526:See also
493:Swapping
228:Plymouth
215:Canadian
180:2-speed
147:Overview
487:Corvair
234:History
207:Pontiac
574:
502:Racing
373:Camaro
271:Buicks
256:Holden
252:export
37:Manual
634:(PDF)
614:(PDF)
324:Types
176:Class
728:2011
653:2024
572:ISBN
514:and
377:Nova
375:and
288:and
273:and
224:Ford
189:The
744::
718:.
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399:.
67:/
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125:e
118:t
111:v
23:.
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