Powerglide planetary gear set

[Les Gibson]

Good afternoon all,
I have a question about a spare Powerglide transmission that I have for my Super Pro Arrow. When I bought the car the previous owner threw in a spare powerglide and torque converter in the deal. I never really paid attention to the spare PG but a couple of weeks ago I got to thinking that I should know what's in it. I know it's a 1.80 gear set, has a manual forward valve body with brake. Called up the previous owner to ask if that trans is ready to go as is. He said it is fresh and ready to run but to keep in mind it has a stock planetary gear set in it. I asked if I could run that in the car if the trans that's in it ( with all the good parts) were to ever break and he said yes.

My question is, is this safe to run with a stock gear set? I have my doubts but I'm no expert on powerglides ( or any other transmission for that matter!). I run the car fairly conservatively, launch RPM between 3800 - 4000 and shift at 6500 - 6800 depending on conditions. So is this safe to use if needed, or should I consider spending the money for an aftermarket planetary gear set?

Thank you.

 

[Desoto291hemi]

Stock planets will work just fine
For a while

That’s why it’s a backup transmission
They work well
But will eventually fail under heavy load on a track

Tommy

 

[GTX JOHN]

On our Mopar 904s in our bracket cars, I believe
the plantaries are smaller (?). I run adapters and
mild 500 inch (650HP) motors and often go hundreds
of runs before damaging them.

When they have broken it is not a big deal as I know right
away before the 60 ft. mark (They have never broken anywhere
else om the track).

Of course, the aftermarket straight cut gears take less HP and ARE
faster/stronger. Also, we play with the ratios regularly. But we spend thousands
on them and they are reserved for our Superstock and Stock Race Cars.

 

[Desoto291hemi]

Thank you John for running a Mopar transmission

I have never understood why Mopar people want to use anything besides Mopar in a power train

Just like the guys that put an LS in a Mopar

Tommy

 

[413]

How much power?
How much car weight?

Two most important things.

 

[ValiantS]

Good afternoon all,
I have a question about a spare Powerglide transmission that I have for my Super Pro Arrow. When I bought the car the previous owner threw in a spare powerglide and torque converter in the deal. I never really paid attention to the spare PG but a couple of weeks ago I got to thinking that I should know what's in it. I know it's a 1.80 gear set, has a manual forward valve body with brake. Called up the previous owner to ask if that trans is ready to go as is. He said it is fresh and ready to run but to keep in mind it has a stock planetary gear set in it. I asked if I could run that in the car if the trans that's in it ( with all the good parts) were to ever break and he said yes.

My question is, is this safe to run with a stock gear set? I have my doubts but I'm no expert on powerglides ( or any other transmission for that matter!). I run the car fairly conservatively, launch RPM between 3800 - 4000 and shift at 6500 - 6800 depending on conditions. So is this safe to use if needed, or should I consider spending the money for an aftermarket planetary gear set?

Thank you.

Depends which stock gearset 1.76 will live at 750hp fr a while at 3000# but the 1.82 gears won't live beyond about 550 at 2800#

 

[Les Gibson]

Thank you John for running a Mopar transmission

I have never understood why Mopar people want to use anything besides Mopar in a power train

Just like the guys that put an LS in a Mopar

Tommy

This is how the car was built and how it was when I bought it. I don't have the time or funds it would take to reconfigure the chassis to accept a 727 or 904.
You don't like it and that is fine, it's your choice to make. But it's helpful to get some facts before you make statements questioning what others do...

 

[Les Gibson]

How much power?
How much car weight?

Two most important things.

Car weighs 2480 with me in it. As for power, I have no idea as the previous owner never had the engine or chassis on a dyno, and I haven't either. Using math formulas to calculate power it comes out to around 740 HP. How accurate that is I have no idea.

 

[Les Gibson]

gentlemen,
I asked this question to gain knowledge on the equipment that I have in my possession. I did not ask the question for some to chime in with condescension concerning the equipment in the car. I did not build this car. It is as I bought it. I'm 69 years old and a one man show. I don't have the time, money or desire to make wholesale changes to this car just to fit someone else's idea of what it should be. If that's the only comment you have, please refrain from responding. For those who genuinely want to share their knowledge and practical experience I am very grateful for that.

 

[Garrett Ellison]

Thank you John for running a Mopar transmission

I have never understood why Mopar people want to use anything besides Mopar in a power train

Just like the guys that put an LS in a Mopar

Tommy

Because in a light car with proper gearing, a two speed with proper gearing is usually quicker than a three speed automatic. Take into account that a powerglide only consumes around 20 horsepower to run compared to twice that for most three speeds and the weight savings, and the advantages add up pretty quickly.

 

[Les Gibson]

On our Mopar 904s in our bracket cars, I believe
the plantaries are smaller (?). I run adapters and
mild 500 inch (650HP) motors and often go hundreds
of runs before damaging them.

When they have broken it is not a big deal as I know right
away before the 60 ft. mark (They have never broken anywhere
else om the track).

Of course, the aftermarket straight cut gears take less HP and ARE
faster/stronger. Also, we play with the ratios regularly. But we spend thousands
on them and they are reserved for our Superstock and Stock Race Cars.

John,
Thank you very much for sharing this information with me. My Arrow is a full Alston chassis car, running a 422 stroker small block based on a 340 X block and CNC ported MP W5 heads. I don't have any actual HP or torque numbers as the previous owner never had it on a dyno and I haven't had the chance to do so to date. I'm guessing it's in the 700 - 750 HP range, but that's just a guess. I'm just trying to get some idea as to how reliable this spare powerglide would be if I ever needed to use it, as it is. Or if I should invest the money to have it brought up to the same spec as the primary transmission.

 

[Les Gibson]

Depends which stock gearset 1.76 will live at 750hp fr a while at 3000# but the 1.82 gears won't live beyond about 550 at 2800#

The primary transmission has a 1.80 gearset and I'm pretty certain this spare trans does as well. The car weighs 2480 with me in it.

 

[413]

Sounds like a great car, and light weight. Have fun with it!

Ask some guys at the races about stock parts in a PG trans. Breaking and going home without racing, then fixing the carnage is more expensive that having good parts from the start.

 

[GTX JOHN]

25 or 30 years back, I had a similar Arrow but with
a 526 Koffel built BI. Even back then it was
900 to 1000 HP. I put a Glide with stock gearset
in it for a season because our old track was rough
as a corn cob and the car was hard to manage with
the Torqueflite and the bumpy track.

At 3200 ft Corrected altitude it ran 8.23 @ 167MPH.
I encounter zero problems. That was my only experience
with a Glide.

 

[Sterling]

If it is a stock gear set, it is either 1.76 or 1.83, like previously mentioned. If it was me, I would have the trans checked over and a 1.80 straight cut gear set installed. Then you know exactly what is in the trans, and how similar it is to the other trans.

 

[71Demon540]

Depends which stock gearset 1.76 will live at 750hp fr a while at 3000# but the 1.82 gears won't live beyond about 550 at 2800#

This right here.

With your car running what it runs, if it has the 1.76, you may get away with it. If its the 1.82, it won't live long. My biggest concern with any stock planetary set including the 1.76 is the unknown history behind the planetary. How much abuse did it see before putting it in a race car? How long was it in a race car at what power and weight? Etc.

As far as cars going faster with glides over 3 speeds, that all depends on the combo. My car weighs 2825-2835 depending how much fuel Im carrying. Friend of mine has a car that weighs 2840 that he just put a faster engine in. I have a 727 and he has a glide. At my 5.38 best I ran, my 60' was 1.17, 3.43 at the 330 and 5.38 at 125.74 mph. I have gone 127 but not on that pass. My friend got back on the race track at the Halloween Classic at Norwalk after having open heart surgery back in August. His car ran a 5.35 at 129.28 mph. His 60' was 1.20, 330' was 3.45, and 1/8 was 5.35. Granite I am not there to see what my car would run this weekend, and he definitely has more smoke than I do as he is 572 B1 Move center head with tunnel ram intake. But for comparison sake, best ET to best ET, this is a PRIME EXAMPLE of where the powerglide comes into play. He has faster ET, but his increments aren't as fast as mine. Him and I have been running within a tenth of each other since I built my Demon. At times, I was faster then him, but his MPH was ALWAYS higher than mine. This is the powerglide taking less HP to rotate and less parasitic drag.

 

[9secRR]

This right here.

With your car running what it runs, if it has the 1.76, you may get away with it. If its the 1.82, it won't live long. My biggest concern with any stock planetary set including the 1.76 is the unknown history behind the planetary. How much abuse did it see before putting it in a race car? How long was it in a race car at what power and weight? Etc.

As far as cars going faster with glides over 3 speeds, that all depends on the combo. My car weighs 2825-2835 depending how much fuel Im carrying. Friend of mine has a car that weighs 2840 that he just put a faster engine in. I have a 727 and he has a glide. At my 5.38 best I ran, my 60' was 1.17, 3.43 at the 330 and 5.38 at 125.74 mph. I have gone 127 but not on that pass. My friend got back on the race track at the Halloween Classic at Norwalk after having open heart surgery back in August. His car ran a 5.35 at 129.28 mph. His 60' was 1.20, 330' was 3.45, and 1/8 was 5.35. Granite I am not there to see what my car would run this weekend, and he definitely has more smoke than I do as he is 572 B1 Move center head with tunnel ram intake. But for comparison sake, best ET to best ET, this is a PRIME EXAMPLE of where the powerglide comes into play. He has faster ET, but his increments aren't as fast as mine. Him and I have been running within a tenth of each other since I built my Demon. At times, I was faster then him, but his MPH was ALWAYS higher than mine. This is the powerglide taking less HP to rotate and less parasitic drag.

i run a 904 and i'm getting a lot of people tell me i need to switch to a glide. it would cost huge $ for me to switch over and i don't know if i would gain anything?

 

[71Demon540]

i run a 904 and i'm getting a lot of people tell me i need to switch to a glide. it would cost huge $ for me to switch over and i don't know if i would gain anything?

My opinion no, you wouldn’t gain anything. It’s very expensive to switch. You will be able to beef up your 904 for far less money. And with all aftermarket parts for the 904, it’ll easily handle the power you’re putting out.

 

[9secRR]

My opinion no, you wouldn’t gain anything. It’s very expensive to switch. You will be able to beef up your 904 for far less money. And with all aftermarket parts for the 904, it’ll easily handle the power you’re putting out.

i have all the good parts in the 904 already.

 

[71Demon540]

i have all the good parts in the 904 already.

Then I wouldn’t even think twice about switching. Just my opinion. Lots say go to the glide for many reasons. Easier to get parts, cheaper (not so much the case anymore), less starting line ratio, only one shift, don’t have to worry about tuning suspension as much with less SLR. The list goes on and on. But with the aftermarket having good parts for torqueflites, they will handle a lot of power.

 

[9secRR]

Then I wouldn’t even think twice about switching. Just my opinion. Lots say go to the glide for many reasons. Easier to get parts, cheaper (not so much the case anymore), less starting line ratio, only one shift, don’t have to worry about tuning suspension as much with less SLR. The list goes on and on. But with the aftermarket having good parts for torqueflites, they will handle a lot of power.

The cost is just to much. Being from Canada (don’t judge lol) makes it really expensive and I have a real good 904 that was behind a friends 477” W8 that has way for HP then my 414” W8.

 

[71Demon540]

The cost is just to much. Being from Canada (don’t judge lol) makes it really expensive and I have a real good 904 that was behind a friends 477” W8 that has way for HP then my 414” W8.

When I say I wouldn’t think twice about switching, I meant I wouldn’t consider making the switch since your 904 is built with good parts.

 

[9secRR]

When I say I wouldn’t think twice about switching, I meant I wouldn’t consider making the switch since your 904 is built with good parts.

yes, since i have a built 904, i'm not going to switch over to a glide. i was going to make a post about switching over to a glide but i don't need to now

 

[Danny Bellmore]

Then I wouldn’t even think twice about switching. Just my opinion. Lots say go to the glide for many reasons. Easier to get parts, cheaper (not so much the case anymore), less starting line ratio, only one shift, don’t have to worry about tuning suspension as much with less SLR. The list goes on and on. But with the aftermarket having good parts for torqueflites, they will handle a lot of power.

Speaking of SLR what are your recommendation's? I have a 727 with a 2.45 first gear and a 904 with a 2.74 first gear and will be around 650-700 hp with a 28-inch-tall tire and have no idea what way to go. Both trans are all Cope internals.

 

[Newbomb Turk]

i run a 904 and i'm getting a lot of people tell me i need to switch to a glide. it would cost huge $ for me to switch over and i don't know if i would gain anything?

You would gain only if you have traction issues you can’t correct or you have so much torque the suspension can’t deal with it.

Reducing SLR is a way to help a car that has a short (relatively) and high (relatively) instant center.

Like a ladder bar or traction bars.