Powerglide in 440 dart

[Steven (Peckerwood) Moore]

I’m putting a powerglide behind my 440 in 69 dart, while I’m at it I’m going to go ahead and throw a mid plate in it. I’ll be running an ultra bell, with a fti converter. I’ll be having a custom drive shaft made. My questions are what is the best flex plate to run, where is the best place to get a crossmember that will fit this, and what else will be needed to do this swap?

 

[496 polara]

I'm sure others will be along to answer your questions, in the mean time welcome to the forum.
Tell us a little about your car and we like pics!

 

[Sterling]

There are a few different manufacturers of flexplates, I have used JW, who makes the Ultrabell, and ATI. The adapter should come with the flexplates, to support the hub of the converter. You will need the flexplate to crank bolts, and flexplate to converter bolts. And might need spacers to make sure the converter is in the trans properly. Depending on the floor of the car, might have to modify for clearance. The bellhousing to engine bolts can be hard to get to depending on the car. Might need starter shims also. I have modified a A body crossmember for the powerglide mount, it was not difficult. Trans cooler lines are on the passenger side. Make sure the converter bolts to the flexplate before you install, there are a couple of different bolt patterns.

 

[MMissile]

ATI

 

[partsmonsta]

Racers put glides in to calm a hard leaving car, but if you talk to FTI, they will make you a soft hit converter that will solve all your problems and save you a ton of moolah and crap.
Everybody that I know that put a glide up to a 440 regretted it.

 

[toolmanmike]

If you are going to run a Glide make sure you build at least a couple of spares, You will need them.

 

[Bewy]

My, how the circle turns....

A bit of trivia....

When Pontiac released the GTO in 1964, touted as a performance car [ with a triple two barrel carb option ], it came with a two speed auto trans [ ST300 ]. A two speed, hardly inspiring for performance.

I have an article that shows how to swap the ST300 for a 727 TF!

 

[toolmanmike]

My, how the circle turns....

A bit of trivia....

When Pontiac released the GTO in 1964, touted as a performance car [ with a triple two barrel carb option ], it came with a two speed auto trans [ ST300 ]. A two speed, hardly inspiring for performance.

I have an article that shows how to swap the ST300 for a 727 TF!

 

[mygasser]

I’m putting a powerglide behind my 440 in 69 dart, while I’m at it I’m going to go ahead and throw a mid plate in it. I’ll be running an ultra bell, with a fti converter. I’ll be having a custom drive shaft made. My questions are what is the best flex plate to run, where is the best place to get a crossmember that will fit this, and what else will be needed to do this swap?

is this still in the planning stages? if so then a common swap is a th400 behind motors of most any make. they're cheap (er) to build a stout 'box compared to others too which may be why they're so popular.
neil.

 

[toolmanmike]

@TomMoparMan , how many passes did you get out of your Torqueflite?

 

[TomMoparMan]

@TomMoparMan , how many passes did you get out of your Torqueflite?

500 to 600 but I run 8.60s in the 1/4. When I ran in the 9s to 10s I`d get around 900 run on an A&A torqueflite . Never had a glide never will. Been racing torqueflites for 50 years same car.

 

[toolmanmike]

500 to 600 but I run 8.60s in the 1/4. When I ran in the 9s to 10s I`d get around 900 run on an A&A torqueflite . Never had a glide never will. Been racing torqueflites for 50 years same car.

Hi Tom. I saw you were online and glad you stopped by.

 

[273]

I might be way off here but,

Since the gear drop of a 2 speed is similar to 1st and 2nd of a 727, couldn't just rear gear it so it just has same effective gear ratio as the 2 speed in 1st & 2nd and leaves 3rd as an kind of overdrive ?

Eg.. A 4.56 behind a 2 speed be similar as 2.94/3.23 behind a 727 in 1st & 2nd.

 

[ValiantS]

I’m putting a powerglide behind my 440 in 69 dart, while I’m at it I’m going to go ahead and throw a mid plate in it. I’ll be running an ultra bell, with a fti converter. I’ll be having a custom drive shaft made. My questions are what is the best flex plate to run, where is the best place to get a crossmember that will fit this, and what else will be needed to do this swap?

I run a glide in my car and did a midplate/adapter for a GM bell pattern. I have some pieces left from upgrades and other combo changes I'd sell. LMK if you are interested.