The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop powerglide closed driveline?

With the 4 speed & granny gear geting out into trafic and up to speed is some slow. I wonder if a powerglide would be better in the 1940 chevrolet suburban?
What years powerglide had the closed drive line that will bolt right in? Would that be enough??
Keep the stock 40 rearend. Swap to patricks gears later on?
Or should I be thinking something like a car powerglide with higher gears a complete swap powerglide and rear houseing like JiMerit posted 12/25/05?
From my search It looks like 50 to 53 powerglide had the closed driveline? thanks Bill

You aren't using the granny gear to get started, are you? Unless you are loaded and on a hill, the use of granny is not needed. Nothing except a turboglide is slower accelerating than a powerglide in a low powered truck. Higher speed gears (lower numerically) will make accelleration even slower.

If you think it,s slow now, wait till you get one of those old slush boxes in it. You will be lucky to get it in motion. You need a 235-261 engine & than possibly the highway gears.

what are the chances of puting in a chevrolet hydra-matic- much change/modifaction involved? Has that been done? the 40 has a 54 motor a 235 with hdy lifters enough power for these Maine back roads 50 mph or so. I like the 6 lug artillery wheels don't want to change that don't need a lot of top end speed. Just a bit faster off the line. Any tips hints ? thanks Bill

My early 1940 ton and a half(two piece torque tube) with a 62 engine with headers and a Clifford manifold with a 390 holley and RV cam and original crash box accellerated quite well and got about 16 MPG at 65 MPH. I got used to the noise, or went deaf, after a while.

I've have had a Power Glide rear end in my 37 since the mid 80's. I'm running a stock three speed and with the 3:54 Power Glide rear axle. I can get into and keep up with the traffic just fine, but I'm preparing a 55 Power Glide OPEN drive line to go in the truck with a T-5 transmission. Installation begins the first of May!

Joe

Ok the 1940 has a 235 in it,and I don't need more top end just the automatic so the wife can drive suburban. I found a 53 with powerglide if I remove powerglide and everything from block to powerglide plus linkage and selector will it bolt right in ? And will the closed driveline in 40 fit? If longer I can have it cut if shorter I may as well use 53 driveline do the complete swap . I think the driveline is part of the ring & pinior right?
thanks Bill