cast iron Powerglide/aluminum Powerglide
 

In what year did NHRA start allowing cars originally equiped with cast iron Powerglides to start using aluminum Powerglides?

Re: cast iron Powerglide/aluminum Powerglide
 

Guessing, 70- 71...I know were legal.
Maybe after they took away the Hydros from the Sedan Deliverys ?

Re: cast iron Powerglide/aluminum Powerglide
 

Thanks Mark, I figured you would know.

Re: cast iron Powerglide/aluminum Powerglide
 

Its neat to look back at some of those old pictures of the sedan deliveries, but I still can't figure how NHRA ever let that tranny be used in a passenger car.

Re: cast iron Powerglide/aluminum Powerglide
 

When they did away with Hydro Al glide was allowed. 70 I believe. Hydro was a car trans in Pontiac and Olds used also in 1/2 ton pickup. Since Delivery appeared in Truck catalogs guess someone who played the rule book game got them to allow cross breed.
Vette motor wasnt available in Delivery either. Lucky for many the vette motor WAS available in 2 Dr. Wagon. Tin snips, change the tailgate and add a rear seat and Presto a legal stocker.( trans change too.)

Re: cast iron Powerglide/aluminum Powerglide
 

I do nt think you could use a aluminum powerglide in a car that came with a cast iron one in 70 or 71

Re: cast iron Powerglide/aluminum Powerglide
 

Correct unless the car came with a rearward trans mount such as Marv Ripes old 57(really a 56) Vette. That was how he was able to use the Alum Glide in the Hot Rod/Dianna Corvette. Ripes ran this car in 1970 and 1971 then NHRA killed stock elim forever in 1972.

Re: cast iron Powerglide/aluminum Powerglide
 

Now that I think about it, I'm thinking the 10 year rule, which I believe became effective in 1970, make it irrevelent anyhow as it would have only effected the 1960-62 Chevrolets. Anything older than that couldn't run stock anymore.

I believe that when Marv Ripes first started converting Opel converters for use with Powerglides, around 1969-70, they were being used with iron Glides.

One of the problems with getting old is that facts that you thought would be etched in your memory forever start eroding away. I hate that.

Re: cast iron Powerglide/aluminum Powerglide
 

I know we ran an aluminum glide in 71 in a 61 Vette and a 59 Chevy, as a superceded replacement item.
I never thought about the 55-57's at the time.
So, the alum. Glide was okayed in 72 in 55-57's in Super Stock?

Re: cast iron Powerglide/aluminum Powerglide
 

It may have been OK but it was tough in a '55 or '56 Chevy powered by a 265 because there were no side-mount bosses on the relatively small-bore '56 265 block. The '55 didn't have an integral oil filter as I recall so everyone had to have a '56 block that incorporated a filter but had no side-mounts. I don't recall that the rules allowed an extra cross member to support the transmission in a tri-five Chevrolet. The Corvette had such a cross member but a '55 did not since the mid-mount was cast into the iron 'Glide bell housing.

I was racing with Val Hedworth around that time and he ran an iron PG in both his '55 station wagon and '55 4-door 210 in Super Stock during the 1972 season.

c

Re: cast iron Powerglide/aluminum Powerglide
 

We raced a 1961 two door impala hardtop SS/X in 1972 283/2bbl with an aluminum glide. We could use either the cast iron or the aluminum unit. When the SS/X record was bombed we switched to a 1962 2dr post car SS/W and set the record with that so I know that setup was legal. The 62 would be a U/SA car now and our best ET back then was 13.70. Probably would run well under the current index even with the stock intake with all the latest technology. The cost of getting a nice 62 would put it out of the dime rocket category.

Re: cast iron Powerglide/aluminum Powerglide
 

As most know 1962 was the first year the Alum. P/G was assembly line produced chevy. The 1959 Conv. O/SA that Mark Y. mentioned has a reward trans mount (X frame) like the early Corvettes of Marv Ripes, Hoffman, and others that ran in 70-71, etc. In 1972 the alum. P/G was allowed in the 55-57 Chebbies in S/S with an added trans crossmember. My old brain cells are still kind of working.

Re: cast iron Powerglide/aluminum Powerglide
 

Cars with the rearward trans mount got the aluminum trans FIRST...(per Chevrolet parts
superscession.) Think it being a BOLT-IN might have helped too....

Guessing that '55-'57 Chevies got to use the modern trans when "adding cross-
members" was permitted in SS...think mid 1970's?

Was at '74 Indy...and saw "Marrakesh Express" '56 wagon with 2x4 bbl Corvette
engine...and cast-iron trans....think it was SS/QA class...Trans was "smoked"...
all apart on trailer...with one of the partners in town...chasing down parts.

Re: cast iron Powerglide/aluminum Powerglide
 

In 1962, keep in mind ONLY the 327 and 409 ci got the aluminum trans on assembly
line...

Re: cast iron Powerglide/aluminum Powerglide
 

....So did the 62 Chevy 11s with 194 cube 6 cylinders. Mine was air cooled, with a sheet metal "scoop" on the torque convertor, and some large, screened holes in the bellhousing area.

Re: cast iron Powerglide/aluminum Powerglide
 

In 1974 I bought a cast iron p/g from Marv for our SS/PA 55 chevy 150. Wesley and Red wouldn't allow an aluminum one.

Greg

My back hasn't been the same since

Re: cast iron Powerglide/aluminum Powerglide
 

Greg

Same thing with me- built a 57 Chev for SS in 1974 and had to use a cast iron
PG . Got it from Marv and I remember it was $199 - the convertor was $399

Re: cast iron Powerglide/aluminum Powerglide
 

You're absolutely correct, Rory. I was refering to the Full-Size Chevrolet models...listed
in the older Chevrolet parts catalogs as "Passenger Car." Don't think GM uses that
term anymore...