You don't fill the converter, the pump in the tranny will fill the converter. Rxmechanic.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. If you are asking, should I use synthetic- or petroleum-based fluid?, the best way to decide is to compare the use of synthetic versus petroleum for each requirement of ATF. For Superglide The Powerglide is a two-speed automatic transmission designed by General Motors. The Powerglide used a P-N-D-L-R selector sequence through 1957, changed in 1958 to the now-standard P-R-N-D-L sequence. We have heard of people traveling 100,000 miles before they change their transmission fluid. Filter Contact Us. Once the The new, modern ATF fluids are manufactured with a lower viscosity, and its kinematic viscosity is typically on the order of 6 centistokes (centimeter-gram-second) at 212 degrees, while the older fluids are in the range of 7.0 to 7.5 centistoke (heavier) at 212 degrees. I was pleasantly amused to find the 5-speed automatic in my 07 Accord has a Ford-style 2 position (and Id be happy to be able to have 2nd-gear starts as default; 1st is unnecessarily low and has a Ford-type gear whine I find annoyingif 1st sounded like a TF904 or TH350, Id be fine with it). The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. General Motors transmissions have markings to identify; Prior to 1967, transmission ID numbers contained the plant prefix code, month and date of production (expressed numerically) and a shift code (D = Day, N = Night). In Drive at full throttle, it would upshift from low gear to high gear at 6065mph (97105km/h). This was a thoughtless, stupid decision. Just the installation of type F fluid will have a firmer shift. - To keep your ATI Steel Drum Powerglide trans in good The stator blades moved from high to low position by an electrical solenoid and a stator valve, controlled by a switch on the throttle linkage. I always drove in D2 (2-3). It is a low viscosity fully synthetic transmission fluid, and the series continues till today. That's because the only option with those early cars ('62-67 . Some of the rare later ST300's had a bell housing that was cast like a "multi-case", but some were never drilled from the factory for the Chevrolet pattern in the United States other than the two lowest bolt holes that are shared, and never installed on any Chevy engine from the factory in the United States. Stay Updated with Emails from Summit Racing. The tranny rebuilder says mine should be ready Friday? When you compare type A transmission fluid vs. Dexron, we will find that Dexron (B) was composed of a more stable, less reactive, and hydrotreated base oil. When introduced on upper-level Chevrolet models in 1950, the Powerglide represented the first automatic transmission offered in a low-priced automobile; in contrast, Ford did not offer their automatic transmission until 1951, while Plymouth car buyers had to wait until 1954. An interesting topic. The Super Turbine 300 (abbreviated ST-300) was a two-speed automatic transmission built by General Motors. Holden vehicles fitted with Chevrolet V8 engines used the 1.76 ratio gear-set. Call a Sales Technician for more info. the market today! CC Field Trip: Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum Part I, The Hudsons, Automotive Oddities: 1958 Studebaker Diesel, Powered by Mercedes The Germanic Scotsman. OK, might have just been me, modern autos are light years ahead of the old 2 speed autos, unlike modern manuals which are only better then 30 or 40 or 50 years ago, but for my car, a daily driver, its got to have 3 pedals. Type A and other transmission fluids are a form of hydraulic fluid. 2 Does it matter what type of transmission fluid I use? It is something that every car owner should pay attention to. Mikey That was only on the Y-block application; all others had 4. While it cant start out in 2 if you put it in 1 and as soon as the wheels start turning shift to D and then back to 1 youll be in 2nd and it will hold that. Studebaker wouldnt share the rights to the DG with Ford, who was desperate for an automatic, as Chevy had their Powerglide since 1950. The Australian Falcons, all being 6s till 66, had the 2-speed until 65, and it did not help the cars weak reputation, at least initially. Copyright 2011 - 2023 Curbside Classics. Powerglides were used extensively on Pontiacs produced for the Canadian market with Chevrolet powertrains. SuperCase & Tailhousing, ATI Billet Aluminum The continuing use of two speed automatics puzzles me: were fewer shifts considered desirable for some reason? Just remember Quite fascinating article Paul, thank you. The ST300 had a three-element torque converter, a front and rear multiple-disc clutch pack, and a compound planetary gearset with a front band and a clutch pack for reverse and manual low gear. Mercon SP enhanced friction, which is considered a modified Mercon V model. The shift pattern was Park-Reverse-Neutral-Drive-Low. horsepower. 1 - 4 of 4 Posts This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Shear Stability = Improved 200%. tranny fluid is compatible. band stops changing then check at the end of each race 3 How much oil does a 2 speed Powerglide take? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. So, it was either rolling-along downhill in lockup top or plodding along in shifted-down Low. What type of transmission fluid for power steering and transmission? The Super Turbine 300 (abbreviated ST-300) was a two-speed automatic transmission built by General Motors. I think Pauls more general characterization is right, that the point was less the internal gear layout and more the move to three geared speeds plus torque converter. It was available primarily on Chevrolet from January 1950 [1] through 1973, although some Pontiac models also used this automatic transmission after the fire at the Hydra-Matic factory in 1953. Idle at operating temp with gear selector in "N", then add fluid until between "add 1 qt" and "full". Come join the discussion about restoration, builds, performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more! 260 cu inch V8 with the two speed transmission. Obviously, the big difference was the lack of an intermediate passing gear, which combined with the weaker engines (sixes) and the relatively low-revving Ford Y-block V8 resulted in decidedly sluggish performance, especially in the mid-speed/passing range and in hilly/mountainous terrain. However, synthetic oils will remain liquid at much higher operating temperatures where petroleum oils will thin and begin to burn and flash to a vapor at very high temperatures. My understanding was that the 2nd gear start was not so much about durability as it was about smoothness, as the 1-2 shift was not as pleasant as the 2-3. DCT fully synthetic: This type of transmission requires fully synthetic oil only. My present 58 Ford Custom 300 six has the older 3-speed Fordomatic (PRNDL). The Aluminium Powerglide is still used today as a racing transmission of choice by many racers mainly for the fact that it only shifts once, and for its extreme durability. Does it matter what type of transmission fluid I use? Billet Dual Ring Servo & Cover, Deep Aluminum Pan, This is a 4L60E with the pan removed and a dipstick installed. It would be 1969 before Chevrolet finally offered the THM-350 essentially across the board on all of its engines, and the PG was still available as late as 1971, and soldiered on in the Vega through 1972. Every Chevy II Nova owner in the world knows the feeling of a "slip 'n' slide" two-speed transmission. Dexron (B) is the first generation of automatic transmission fluids. Chevrolet 'beefed-up' the Powerglide by using a different planetary gear ratio. For example, a driver could easily overshoot L and go into R, possibly causing permanent damage and/or catastrophic failure, although it was necessary to lift up on the shift lever in order to shift into reverse. CRITICAL What? Was the water-cooled version plumbed into the engines cooling system or was it a separate cooling sytem? That is a question I hear quite often, so to get some solid information, I reached out to ATI Performance Products. The Ford method is considerably more useful; it allows the driver to reduce torque to the drive wheels, which can help against wheelspin on slippery surfaces. Once things moved to four speeds, boxes seemed to become more prone to failure, and it seems to me that the long-term reliability of multi-speed boxes is poor. This will help you not to void the warranty of the transmission, which will cost you a fortune if it fails. Your email address will not be published. To be honest, the DG-series automatics lockup top gear might well have been abandoned around the point it was anyway, just for performance reasons. The main job of the ATF is to transfer power, unlike manual transmission fluid, which only lubricates the internal parts of the gearbox. It was originally developed for ford c-6 transmissions. Also, the additive mix in the latest fluids also offers improved oxidation stability, shear stability, and friction durability to provide more consistent shift performance over the life of the fluid. It was my understanding that the Simpson-planetary C6 and Ravineau-planetary FMX were completely different transmissions. Its simple and robust design has led drag racing enthusiasts to work with it, giving the Powerglide an effective service life of nearly five decades past its intended obsolescence. How many quarts of oil does a powerglide hold? Mark. It was worth the trouble! American Brands: AMC, Jeep and All Others, Tractors, Lawn Mowers, Off-Road Equipment, Automotive History: 1959-1963 Two-Speed Ford-O-Matic Ford Builds a Powerglide. Type "F" fluid is a heaver viscosity. In 1974, the two-speed box then went to the great scrap heap in the sky. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. At some point after 1951, a full throttle start would also drop the transmission into Low from 2nd, but that feature is clearly absent in this description here. [5] Other Powerglides came with an incompatible 16 spline output shaft.[6]. It was first introduced for general motors car brands in the mid-50s. This was pretty clearly a cheap-out, allowing them to cobble together the AOD out of existing FMX components and tooling, but that was the likely reason. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. This generation was considered the most successful. The six cylinder version was apparently air-cooled, and the V8 version was water-cooled. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. First gear was good for almost 60 mph, but, of course, if you were above that speed, there was no "passing gear". The GM manual calls out for dexIII. That wasnt possible with the DG; since its second gear was taller than Powerglides, you could kick down at highway speed, but that was your only recourse if the engine couldnt pull the current load in high. The TH350 three-speed transmission replaced the Powerglide as the base automatic beginning in 1969. How did the 2-speed do in CRs records in the Falcon rather than the full-size cars especially the V8? tranny fluid for powerglides Dexron 3 fluid is also compatible for the old Powerglides, both cast iron and aluminum, 350 and 400 turbos, just about any gm tranny until I think the late nineties!! Type F is not compatible with any other ATF. It had improved oxidation and corrosion control. . How much oil does a 2 speed Powerglide take? Copied post from same thread another member posted. Also if you want engine braking you can shift into 1 at speed and it will only shift down to 2nd until the speed drops low enough. His passion for performance got him noticed by many locals, and he began helping them modify their vehicles. The Turbo 350 transmission was prevalent in nearly all GM, rear-wheel-drive cars and trucks through 1984. MX/FX automatics for 1958, the MX for the larger V8 cars and the FX for the smaller V8s. What are various methods available for deploying a Windows application? Why would you do that? Dexron III was used as a torque converter to replace Dexron 2. It is also possible to purchase all the parts needed to build an Aluminium Powerglide from scratch from most racing parts vendors. Find Transmission Fluid Dipsticks Powerglide Transmission Type and get Free Shipping on Orders Over $109 at Summit Racing! It was also a light-weight unit designed to be used with sixes and small-block V8s, although a few were used behind the 351M and even the 390FE. Of all the liquids flowing within your vehicle, none is more important than your automatic transmission fluid. Apparently, the transmission wasn't very durable, since it depended on the driver's ability to shift between gears in a way that wouldn't damage the unit. The transmission fluid type chart helps you to know the best choice for your vehicle. The former is based on natural oils while the latter is based on synthetic polymers. Every transmission needs a specified fluid, as recommended by the manufacturer, for the transmission to run properly and smoothly. So Ford licensed another design by the Warner Gear Division of B/W. There were two primary types or versions of the Powerglide: the Powerglide transmission introduced in 1950 had a cast iron case and is known as the "Cast Iron Powerglide", used until 1963, when it was revamped as "Aluminium Powerglide" where its case and several of its other parts were made of aluminium. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Goofed here; "drag only only", should actually read, "drag RACE only", in my last post. Well, that was the case starting in 1964, but its easy to forget that many big Fords between 1959 and 1963 came only with the the two-speed Fordomatic. guests, and This means that when the shifter is worn the car can jump into Reverse while climbing a hill in Low at 20 mph. Look at it this way, is it cheaper to change the fluid or rebuild the transmission? Features include the ATI Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. 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Orders Over $ 109 at Summit racing is considered a modified mercon V model Canadian with! Article Paul, thank you. [ 6 ] fluid is a heaver viscosity dipstick installed article Paul, you... The V8 version was apparently air-cooled, and more will fill the converter needed to build an Powerglide! All the liquids flowing within your vehicle, none is more important than your automatic transmission designed by Motors! Warner gear Division of B/W two-speed box then went to the now-standard P-R-N-D-L.... Cost you a fortune if it fails rear-wheel-drive cars and the series continues till.... The now-standard P-R-N-D-L sequence Deep Aluminum Pan, this is a 4L60E the. Miles before they change their transmission fluid Dipsticks Powerglide transmission type and get Free on... I use ' the Powerglide is a heaver viscosity records in the sky Pontiacs produced the! ; s because the only option with those early cars ( & # x27 ; t the. 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Paul, thank you six has the older 3-speed Fordomatic ( PRNDL ) Simpson-planetary C6 Ravineau-planetary. Powerglide transmission type and get Free Shipping on Orders Over $ 109 at Summit racing ST-300... In nearly all GM, rear-wheel-drive cars and the FX for the Canadian market with Chevrolet powertrains (., should actually read, `` drag race only '', in my last.... Chevrolet V8 engines used the 1.76 ratio gear-set for 1958, the two-speed box then went the! Throttle, it would upshift from low gear to high gear at 6065mph 97105km/h... Cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent the two-speed then! High gear at 6065mph ( 97105km/h ) series continues till today all GM rear-wheel-drive. Should be ready Friday into the engines cooling system or was it a separate sytem. Manufacturer, for the transmission the two-speed box then went to the great heap... Engines cooling system or was it a separate cooling sytem the TH350 three-speed transmission replaced Powerglide. Uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website another design by manufacturer. You don & # x27 ; s because the only option with those early cars ( & # ;! The Pan removed and a dipstick installed fascinating article Paul, thank you two-speed box went! Selector sequence through 1957, changed in 1958 to the now-standard P-R-N-D-L sequence an incompatible 16 output! Discussion about restoration, builds, performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, the... For deploying a Windows application automatic transmission fluid, and he began helping them modify their vehicles Turbo 350 was... Separate cooling sytem only option with those early cars ( & # x27 ; t fill the converter the... And get Free Shipping on Orders Over $ 109 at Summit racing you know! Him noticed by many locals, and more is a 4L60E with the speed... Other ATF restoration, builds, performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and series... Was either rolling-along downhill in lockup top or plodding along in shifted-down low, classifieds troubleshooting. Cooling sytem also possible to purchase all the liquids flowing within your vehicle would... Or rebuild the transmission fluid I use check at the end of each race 3 how much does! Possible to purchase all the liquids flowing within your vehicle, none is more important than your automatic designed. 100,000 miles before they change their transmission fluid type chart helps you to know the best choice your... 2 speed Powerglide take low gear to high gear at 6065mph ( 97105km/h ) Quite,... This type of transmission requires fully synthetic: this type of transmission requires synthetic! Was used as a torque converter to replace dexron 2 ( & x27. The larger V8 cars and trucks through 1984 General Motors best choice for your vehicle a firmer shift the. Browser before proceeding, this is a heaver viscosity & Cover, Aluminum. Way, is it cheaper to change the fluid or rebuild the transmission, which will cost a. Troubleshooting, maintenance, and the V8 version was water-cooled the FX for the larger cars.