Y Block to powerglide


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By Cliff - 10 Years Ago
Hi, I putting together rear engine dragster (Spitzer), it is set up for a powerglide (motor plate), I would to keep the glide, what is the best way to adapt it to a Y Block Ford?

Thanks Cliff
By Lou - 10 Years Ago
Powergluide is one of the worse transmissions ever made, you be better off with a water cooled y-block Ford-o-matic.(FMX is the same trans)
By gekko13 - 10 Years Ago
Contact ATI Performance Products.  They have developed some of the finest parts for the "Powerglide" type transmission.  They can also build a SFI certified unit rated up to 3000 hp.  Not cheap but the best seldom is.
By The Master Cylinder - 10 Years Ago
Wilcap in Pismo Beach, CA. Part #312-350CHEVYAT They've been making performance adapters for years.

Lou (5/9/2014)
Powergluide is one of the worse transmissions ever made, you be better off with a water cooled y-block Ford-o-matic.(FMX is the same trans)

Powerglides are used extensively in Bracket classes. They have the least parasitic drag of all autos and can be built very strong. A Ford-o doesn't even come close even with FMX parts.

Not to mention the weight difference. An aluminum PG is MUCH less than a Cast Iron Fordo/FMX...

By paul2748 - 10 Years Ago
Not being a brand X fan, but the powerglides used for racing purposes are one of the best around.  Light weight, small size and plenty of parts to make them handle huge horsepower  make them a favorite.

Lou (5/9/2014)
Powergluide is one of the worse transmissions ever made, you be better off with a water cooled y-block Ford-o-matic.(FMX is the same trans)


By Glen Henderson - 10 Years Ago
I think Ted is running a glide in his roadster most likely with a engine plate that he fabricated. I know that with the aftermarket case, you can get a sbf, bbf, or FE bellhousing that is sfi approved. The alum case powerglide is probably the simplest trans there is and with aftermarket parts it can handle some serious HP.
By Lou - 10 Years Ago
Ok guys, maybe if you build a powergluide it a good trans, but in stock form not so much. I 've blown 2 powerglides and never a Ford-o.
By The Master Cylinder - 10 Years Ago
Pretty sure Cliff wasn't thinking of using a stock PG in a Dragster...

These days you can build a "Powerglide" without using any GM parts (big bucks, tho!).
By Ted - 10 Years Ago

My Altered with Y power uses a Powerglide behind the Y engine with a homemade ½” thick aluminum adapter plate.  Because the top two bolt holes on the Y coincide very closely to the top two bolt holes on the scrub bellhousing pattern, the Powerglide transmission on my adapter is clocked approximately 3° clockwise (looking from the rear) to give those top two mounting holes for the transmission a clean area for the mounting studs.  It’s clockwise rather than counter clock wise so that the shifter arm in the transmission is ‘up’ rather than ‘down’.

I’ve also used the Powerglide trannies successfully in a rash or other race cars with good results.  Good parts and good assembly practices make these the transmission of choice in lightweight drag vehicles.  For my ’57 race car I am using a C4 so I can take advantage of the lower first gear but I’m still having to use an adapter so that the C4 mates up to the Y engine while using a SFI rated flywheel.

Here’s the link to thread that shows a picture of the adapter fabbed up for my ’57 that is using a C4 tranny.  This uses the same basic fabrication techniques as the adapter for the Powerglide.

And here’s a link to where a forum member used the Wilcap adapter and was happy with the results.

By glrbird - 10 Years Ago

Ted
Are there any plans to finish the 57 racecar anytime soon.

By Ted - 10 Years Ago
glrbird (5/12/2014)

Ted
Are there any plans to finish the 57 racecar anytime soon?


Just got in the parts to build a set of 'by design' unequal length tube headers for the 314" Y that's going to be initially used in the car.  If done correctly the unequal length headers will make more power than the equal length headers.  More on that once I've dyno tested the different variables.  The Y engine for the '57 is ready as well as the C4 tranny.  Other than the headers, the car itself is just about finished except for the paint and body work.  It's hard to say how long paint and body work is going to take at this point though.
By suede57ford - 10 Years Ago
I have a Y-block cruisomatic that was used in some '59,60 &61 fords an it is a true two speed.  I've  heard that it is actually powerglide internals.  It is an all aluminum transmission.  If one truely wanted a powerglide for a Y-Block that would seem to be the tranny to start with. 
By glrbird - 10 Years Ago

Pat
could you look for numbers on the trans, maybe it could be determined if it is a powerglide inside, that would be intersting.

By Hollow Head - 10 Years Ago
Shorty Glide would be my choice for dragster. We have long one behind our twin turbo Y-block and no issues with glide. Though we fried one converter sprag while raising boost at the lights BigGrin. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEIeutUSfXU
By Cliff - 10 Years Ago
Thanks guys, and thanks to Ted for the template, here's a picture of my car.

Cliff