Powerglide Out Turbo 200 In Jack "the Captain" McCarthy

[Jim Cimarolli]

'66, '67, '68 325 hp 396 Chevelle's had either a P/G or a Turbo 400 trans.
NHRA does not recognize any of those cars with a 2 speed auto transmission even though there were many of them out there. Len Imbrogno told me himself that he had one.
I don't know why anyone would want to use a Powerglide if he could use a 3 speed, but thats the way NHRA sees it! I think any car that was available with a Turboglide should be allowed to use a 3 speed automatic transmission.

[bill dedman]

. I know from 53 (!) years of experience that NHRA avoids, like the plague, attempting to justify their position on something like this issue, but if Travis,,who sometimes posts here, could explain the NHRA's reason for disallowing Turboglides as 3-speeds, it could save a kot of people a lot of wrangling.

The planetaryy gearsets in the Turboglide have ratios that closely approximate first and second gears in a TH350/400. Third is a direct drive, like the conventional Turbohydros,

That adds up to three, in my book.

Thanks, Mr. Cim., for your input. The 396 Chevelle story is very interesting.... and, telling

[mtkawboy]

Turboglide cranks had a slightly larger pilot hole in the crank then all the others. When I was younger I built a 57 283 up that had a turboglide crank and a stock pilot bearing was too small for the hole in the crank. I had to have one made that fit. The crank later broke in half at 7000, maybe a weaker crank maybe just blew up.

[63corvette]

The chevelles info I believe is not correct. I can say fairly for certain the 396 engine option required the turbo 400 option for an auto trans in 67 and 68. Not sure about the 66. I worked at a GM dealership in the late 60's and had access to the order forms. From my recolection a powerglide was not an option in 67 or 68 in the 396 chevelles.
My 2 Cents

[Tony Janes]

Powerglide were legal for 396 Chevelles in 1966, Danny Gracia had a station wagon with one in it

[Bruce Noland]

Bill

Man, I'm glad to see you back out here - hope you're on the mend.

So what is the big deal with not allowing the intechange of these two transmissions? I'll spare everyone the list (partial list because none of us know the whole list) of bogus stuff they have accepted. This doesn't seem like a big stretch.

[bill dedman]

Thanks for the kind wods, Bruce!!!! It's nice to be back.

I feel there's nothhing remotely "bogus" about this deall. It has simply been overlooked for too many years. Everyone seems to agree that it's a 3 speed transmission except the NHRA Tech Dept.
Maybe it's because you can't feel the gear changes, I dunno...
speed (Metric 200?) although they could have come with a 3 speed, originally (Turboglide.)

Time to rectify
To me, the "big deal" is that, for example, you can legally use a 904 behind a 340 (a never-b uilt OEM application), while the Turboglide (3 speed) claim for cars like- Cap' Jackk's 283 wagon are denied the opportuunity to swap to an alternative 3 this long-standing injustice,,,

Justt my 2 cents....

[bill dedman]

Thanks for the kind wods, Bruce!!!! It's nice to be back.

I feel there's nothhing remotely "bogus" about this deall. It has simply been overlooked for too many years. Everyone seems to agree that it's a 3 speed transmission except the NHRA Tech Dept.
Maybe it's because you can't feel the gear changes, I dunno...
Not allowed a swap to a 3 speed (Metric 200?) although they could have come with a 3 speed, originally (Turboglide.)


To me, the "big deal" is, for example, 340 Dusters are allowed a 904 (a never-b uilt OEM application), while the Turboglide (3 speed) claim for cars like- Cap' Jackk's 283 wagon are denied the opportuunity to swap to an alternative 3 speed. Time to rectify this long-standing injustice,,,

Justt my 2 cents....

[Jim Cimarolli]

Originally Posted by 63corvette

The chevelles info I believe is not correct. I can say fairly for certain the 396 engine option required the turbo 400 option for an auto trans in 67 and 68. Not sure about the 66. I worked at a GM dealership in the late 60's and had access to the order forms. From my recolection a powerglide was not an option in 67 or 68 in the 396 chevelles.
My 2 Cents

Well, if I'm wrong about this I'm blind. I personally have seen and rode in all three year models that I mentioned in my earlier post with Powerglides behind a 396-325 in a Chevelle. I have 2 buddies that bought new SS Chevelles in '68, one of them was a Turbo, the other was a Powerglide. Oh, and I also worked at a GM dealership in the late 60's.

Jim Cimarolli

[WCW]

Am i missing something.Did not nhra pass 3 speeds in all powerglide cars or was that just for super stock.
thanks....clarence
I also had a friend that had a p/g in a 396 66 chevell.