Joe Werner Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 Im beefing up my 283 in my 57 chevy but i want to leave the transmission orginal (powerglide) what the highest amount of horsepower can there transmissions handle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twitch Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 I don't know if there's a HP limit but tread lightly. I had enough trouble with the Powerglide standing up to a 235 6 in my 58 Chevy with just 50,000 miles on it back in the 60s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizzyDale Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 Dear Twitch,Last thing i raced 48 Fiat -8.20 -altered,522" 840hp BB Chevy had a powerglide with an aftermarket valve body,input shaft,clutchs,everything else was as it came from Chevrolet.I gotta tell you when that planetary decides to give it up it is UGLY.diz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tin knocker Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 My memory may be failing but I seem to remember the Scarab in the old Can-Am series trying a Powerglide and it handled the power just fine.Rollie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BillP Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 A guy I know runnning a nostalgia gas dragster, early style Chrysler hemi with 6-71 GMC blower in front of a powerglide. I believe Lance Reventlow's Scarab had a conventional Corvette V8 with 4-speed manual transmission. The car was built by Troutman & Barnes, who also built the first Chaparrals for Jim Hall, also using Corvette drivetrains. A number of later Chaparrals, built by Hall in Texas, were rear-engined with simple but tough two-speed dog clutch transmissions fed power by a torque converter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twitch Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 I know re-engineered or at least re-built Powerglides can handle themselves. But Joe is talking about a 48 year old stock tranny! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BillP Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 Discussing the definition of "is".A 48 year-old transmission can be expected to be in need of service or a complete rebuild, much as any mechanical system of that vintage. In excellent operating condition, Joe's Powerglide should be adequate for the service to which I understand it will be subjected; i.e., street use behind a mildly hopped-up but otherwise essentially stock 283 in a sedan. In fact, examples exist of Powerglides performing service in harsher operating environments than that described. Leaky, wheezy, balky-shifting, slipping automatic transmissions of whatever age can be expected to fail. Joe hasn't described his. Let us then revise and simplify our advice to Joe: If in good condition, your transmission should be fine. If it presently needs a rebuild, continued use will not improve it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twitch Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 Absolutely- if it's good for now, proceed. When I said to be careful I was thinking worse scenario. Lots of brake torque starts and high RPM stuff will soon tell on a half century old tranny. Hey I did that to my 58 with about 50,000 on it in 1964 and just the 235. I'm picturing myself with lots more power and my tranny- recipe for disaster. I hope you drive a little more docile than I did, Joe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Werner Posted February 17, 2005 Author Share Posted February 17, 2005 The engine and tranmission are going to be rebuilt before i start to drive i would like to boost the horsepower to 270hp but leave the orginal transmission and i was wondering if the old powerglides could handle to the 270 hp if not ill only boost it up to 245hp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Old Guy Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 Powerglides are being used in many Supergas cars that make 700+ HP. I can't feature breaking one that has been properly built with 300HP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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