Thread: How tough is a powerglide?

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How much torque and horsepower can be safely run through stock 1.76 gears, and a stock case?
The powerglide is to built with a transbrake, and is going in a 2200lb car.

If the mainshaft and the rest of the internals are stock you might want to reconsider the brake.... Also, is this on slicks or street tires??? If it's on the street and just going to spin the tires you'll be ok for a bit. With slicks, doubt it will live through too many trans brake launches.....

I had a friend who ran a Powerglide in a Top Alcohol dragster in the '70s, but it took the best parts to keep it alive. I also read many times that, with the right parts, they were actually stronger than the Turbo 400. I also had a customer who raced a bigblock '68 Camaro with a PG. It ran 10 flats.

Built, they are the tranny of choice of most the bigger dogs here running in the 10's 9's 8's door cars etc... But as said, I don't think they would take as much punishment with stock internals... A stock glide is stronger than a stock TH400.

-Chris

The stock case is prone to cracking also.

Originally Posted by skids72

... A stock glide is stronger than a stock TH400.

-Chris

i dont klnow about that, ive seent hem turbo 400's take a world of beating in a pickup get a flush n filter then get tossed into a drag car and last a season or 2 they are damn tough old birds!

I agree TH400 is a very tough tranny and is what I abuse myself ... I don't really speak from experience but I've always been under the impression the glide was stronger still with fewer parts to fail... ?

-Chris

how does the c6 stack up to the two? in a truck with say 400-500hp, street only, stock trans up to it?

Red

C6 should be fine Dago. Thats what's going into my 48, the rear will be a 71 f150 9 inch, and the power plant is a 429 with 350-400 hp. I've talked to quite a few folks that say the c6's are bullet proof! If you go over 500hp, you start getting out of my range of knowledge, but I'm sure one of our Ford guys will know!

sounds like almost the same setup, I think my rear end is out of an early 70's bronco, 9" cut 8" and has moser axles in it. the trans is stock from what I gathered, just a small shift kit in it. waiting to see how it runs to decide on whether to put a stall converter in it.

I don't think we'll go over 500hp, not worth spending the money as I don't think without a lot of suspension work we'd be able to keep it down.

Red

I have bought a tough input shaft, an aftermarket clutch hub, uprated pump, extra reverse springs, and other tough bits and pieces. My only concern is the stock 1.76 gear set and case. Carl Munroe of TSR claims in his powerglide book that the gears will handle circa 600bhp, but in everyone's experiance is that a conservative claim, considering that this transmission is going in a 2200lb car. The tires are 12" wide soft street legal cheater type.
Could 700 bhp be put through?

My personal experience with a glide is they are much tougher than people think. I always ran a glide in my 66 nova drag car for 20 years. The car weighed 3000lbs, 525hp to 550hp small block 400, trans brake with a 5000 stall converter, shift kit, 4:88 rear and slicks. I ran the car 300 to 350 runs per season and went trough the tranny every two seasons. I used stock components. Maybe I was just lucky but I never broke a shaft cracked a case or had any issues with it with the exception of losing one set of plantary gears and went from 1:76 to 1:82's at that time.
Well that's my .02cents

i think the power gilde is not stronger in stock or mild worked over form. guys like the pg less mass then the 400 i have a customer that runs a no Nos engine with a 400 trans and a548 bbc that runs mild 8s when you start making big power you can break 400s the power glide has weak case weak input weak plantery they may be ok but for heavy cars with big power you will need a after market PG

With all the good internals, I'd be wanting it in a good case just as a bit of insurance to protect my investment....

I was thinking of a 400th for a blown sbc when my race motor builder said to go with a powerglide. When he said this I got the impression stock was strong enough but maybe I was assuming too much. This guy holds the record in our area for most the most horsepower on a dyno so we tend be very quiet when he speaks!