Modern chassis and engine for 63 shortbed

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

Originally Posted by 19GMC63

why a powerglide?
A 700r4 or a T5 or any other OD tranny would be the ticket for him.

It was the "base" 2-speed automatic transmission, and very popular. It is a reliable, economical, smooth transmission and capable of very respectable performance. The Powerglide in "built mode" form was the preferred drag-race transmission for quite a few years, and is still popular for drag racing. The Powerglide is a 2 speed automatic transmission that was first used in Chevrolet cars of the day and has now become a staple drag racing transmission among enthusiast straight liners. The Powerglide is simple and strong, which explains why drag racers like it so much. Around 1960, GM began making aluminum Powerglides. They were first introduced in cast iron. Powerglides were usually put behind small-block Chevrolet V8s and inline six cylinder engines. By the late 1960s buyers were demanding three-speed transmissions. It was GM's 1st auto transmission.. It had 2 foward gears with close ratios between the gears.
It was used on 6 cyl, small block v8's and big block v8's
1st gear ratio for v8 glides was a 1.76
second gear was a 1.00
For all the 6 cyl and later 4cyl vega engines the glide has a 1.82 1st gear ratio and the same 1.00 second gear
It started in 1950 and up untill 1957 it was the only auto, then chevy let out a Hydra-Matic 3 speed for an option on '57-60 (or might have been '61) V8's. IIRC it didnt do too well and had alot of failures in the 1st 2 years or so..
Then the 'glide was again chevys only auto trans up till 1965 when they built the TH-400 3 speed auto..
Then in '69 they built the th-350 3 speed auto for lighter duty V8 use..
The glide stayed around till the early 70's but only used on 6 cyl engines and the 4 cyl vega.
Now jump to the last 20 years, the power glide is still in use in some racing.. It's a light transmission, small trans, simple, few parts, and pretty strong... Also the high gear ratio makes launching a very high HP/TQ car taming and there for better traction.. (think 800 HP here)
Also the gear spread is short so RPMs don't fall off as much on the 1-2 shift.

If he had the inline 6 / powerglide combo plus between a 3.08--370 gear, it might help alot.
But there are alot of stuff to do to be fuel effcient. Like Captainfab says.. HEI ignition system.
Engine--Exhaust--Trans--Gear--Tire Size.

1940–1967 Hydra-Matic — Oldsmobile (now the trade name for all GM automatic transmissions)
1948–1964 Dynaflow — Buick
1958–1959 Flightpitch — Buick
1961–1963 Dual Path Turbine Drive — Buick
1950–1973 Powerglide — Chevrolet (also used by Pontiac)
1961–1964 Roto Hydramatic — Oldsmobile/Pontiac
1964–1969 Super Turbine 300 — Buick/Oldsmobile/Pontiac (Oldsmobile Jetaway)
Transmission Identification By Pan

1 Aluminum Powerglide 14 bolts

2 TH200 Metric 11 bolts

3 TH350 13 bolts

4 TH400 13 bolts

5 TH200-4R 16 bolts

6 TH700-R4, 4L60, 4L60E 16 bolts

7 4L80E 17 bolts


Transmission Dimensions