The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Powerglide trans problem

I have installed a "rebuilt glide" that set for ten years. Will not do anything. Little wine in drive , but no motion at all. Pulled it at 25 mph and put in low to try to get somthing and zero. Can tell it shifts between low and drive while towing. Do i need to take it out?

seems like you have a real problem unless it is just low on fluid, I am sure you already have checked that. where is sunray tx? Thanks

Fred

When you put the torque converter on the front shaft did it seat into the slots and tabs properly? If it wasn't and there was force on the internal pump, with the initial startup that pump may be gone.

Is the fluid too full?

I was carefull to make sure the converter was installed right. Fluid level is at the add mark. This has set for ten years in a shop and in my truck. The old GM and motor manuals say just 3 items to keep it from doing nothing. Fluid(check) releif valve at pump and regulator valve in valve body. Am satisfied will have to remove but will try anything first to see if it will work.

Correction, fluid is at full mark and filled converter before assembly. Sunray Texas is 70 miles north of Amarillo Tx Off Us 287

I am tired at the moment and my mind is not calculating correctly but here is a thought or two.

Try by-passing the tranny cooler in the radiator. it may have blockage or restricted flow.
Are the cooler lines kinked anywhere?
The clutches may have been dry and need to soak up some fluid befor they will grab properly.
There may be blockage in the valve body or a sticking valve.
Is the internal linkage in the tranny pan hooked up?
Last, was the tranny PROPERLY assembled?

I am by no means a tranny expert, but Ive worked on several different Dodge and GM trannys, so heres a shot....

This all assumes the tranny was built properly. When a tranny sits up, all its rubber seals can dry out, and the moving parts can gum up from not being used. A PG is a fairly simple tranny, not as much to go wrong with 2 forward gears. Did you fill the converter with fluid before you installed it? Is this converter new?
If you are hearing a little whine, it is most likely the converter or front pump. The tranny should produce some forward or reverse motion even if the valve body, linkage, or clutch packs were stuck. It is also possible that the clutch pack seals are dried out. This allows fluid to leak around the clutch pack and can prevent clutch engagement.

Does a PG have a pressure test port? You could test the integrity of the converter and front pump with some line pressure tests. You could also pull the pan and look at the valve body before you remove tranny.

good luck

chip

If it sat for ten years, i'd check the filter, they usually whine when the filter is plugged up. Been a long time since I played with a powerglide,but I think there is also a screen between the valve body and the intake for the pump that could be clogged.Is it an early or late glide some had two pumps,front and rear.The clutch discs need to be soaked and the rubber seals could be dried out,could be a lot of things but check the filter first.Otherwise the glide is not a very complicated trans and if you are inclined you could probably go through it yourself and rebuid it(new clutches and rubber seals) it's not hard.

Thanks all for the info. This was suposed to be a rebuilt one. It has set a long time which i know is bad on it. I will pull the pan and check the filter and screens before i jerk it back out. That stuff should have been clean and new with the rebuild. I traded a friend of mine out of it and took a chance it would work. I might put a tubo 350 back in anyway. Thanks again