moonframer

Need some advice please! My powerglide (original and never been out) tends to slip when shifting from first into second gear. It is intermittent but seems to be more so when starting out when the car is cold and on steeper grades. I have no passing gear and the only way to get the car to downshift when accelerating is to manually pulling the shifter into low gear. Does it sound like I need to drop the transmission and have it rebuilt or can they be adjusted in the car? Thanks, Jim

Kerrmudgeon

First, check the trans oil level and colour. If it's low fill it up, if it's dark or smells burnt you may have to have it done. Second, yes, those old cast iron PGs have band adjustments that can be made while in the car. Try that if you can find an OLD mechanic or read up and DYI.
My 56 Belair has the same trans, and needs to come out due to leaks/blown seals. WARNING...they are very heavy. Don't attempt this without trans jack or a strong friend.

You should have a kick down rod on the bottom of your carb linkage that attaches to the trans with a lever. If that's missing you won't have a passing gear.

moonframer

Thanks for the advice. All the kick down linkage is there and working so it must be internal or an adjustment. I will try and find a local old school trans. mechanic first before dropping it. Jim

dplotkin

Not positive on the cast iron box but on an aluminum glide a low speed slip in low or a flare in RPM during the shift from low to high is almost always curable by performing the low band adjustment as per the shop manual, which you can easily do yourself.

I have a 63 Impala that acted up similarly and just before i resigned myself to rebuilding it, a guy on the Chevytalk forum, might have been DZ Auto himself, told me what to do. In 15 minutes I had a glide that shifted and still shifts like a Turbo 350. That was 13 years ago!

Dan

moonframer

Dan, very encouraging advice. I will try to find the adjustment procedure
in the manual and give it a shot. Thanks. Jim

rfn026

I replaced the rear main seal and that stopped 90% of the leaks. You really don't want to take the PG transmission out unless you absolutely have no other choice. First it's stupid heavy. Secondly where are you going to find someone to rebuild it?

Richard Newton

moonframer

thanks

dplotkin

Richard, The majority of transmissions used in the 50's and early 60's are cast iron and are as you put it "stupid heavy." So what? Engines are heavy too.


If a Powerglide is leaking badly or otherwise has internal problems that a low band adjustment won't cure, it is no big deal to have a trans shop re-do it. trans techs who can do a Powerglide over are everywhere. It is among the simplest auto mixers out there to rebuild. A Packard Ultra-Matic? Now that's a stupid heavy transmission most trans techs will run from like Ebola virus, but not a Powerglide.


Dan