cast iron Powerglide/aluminum Powerglide

[Bobby Zlatkin]

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

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Bobby Zlatkin

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

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

[Bobby Zlatkin]

Thanks Mark, I figured you would know.

[Jim Cimarolli]

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.

[Dick Butler]

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.)

[Tony Janes]

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

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Tony Janes

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

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.

[Bobby Zlatkin]

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.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by X-TECH MAN

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.

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?

[Chuck Norton]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

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?

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