VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 Powerglide torque converter

Hello All
Bought a 50 Deluxe and the previous owner had the powerglide transmission rebuilt but never instaled. I am ready to put it back in the car but was wondering how to attach the torque converter to the flywheel?

Interesting question. If the powerglide was removed, what transmission is in the car now? If you have three speed manual then you must have a flywheel.

To install the PowerGlide it will be necessary to remove the flywheel and replace it with a flex plate.

Is the flex plate still with the PG or is it's whereabouts unknown?

The torque converter is bolted to the flywheel (flex plate).It is attached by six bolts.You should see the six holes in the flex plate.Six of the eighteen converter front cover bolts are the bolts used.There will be two bolts together unused ,one used for flywheel, two unused and so on.The bolts are installed from the engine side of the flywheel.There is a little access hole in the housing, facing to the front, just below and to the rear of the block drain plug.Will be necessary to rotate engine, find hole in the flex plate, insert bolt and tighten.rotate again, find next hole,etc.Tighten gently at first and then go back and retighten again ...15 to 20 ft. lbs.

The transmission is a bear to install.The big floor hump cover must be removed as well as the small cover(to the front) above it.The housing to engine bolts are accessed thru the little cover.The trans. is raised, tipped up at the rear, which comes up thru the floor and swung forward into place........have fun, be careful---it heavy.

Yes makes sence now, the only thing is the six converter front cover bolts are allen head and seem kind of small, but they must be all it takes to hold it in place. There are no lock washers under these bolts' should there be?

The original bolts were hex head (all 18) and had a lock washer.Were a hardened bolt I would guess.The allen heads are not correct.If you replace them do one at a time.....be sure the ones used for the flex plate are long enough so all threads catch.The original bolts were all the same length.

Sorry I got a little ahead, The transmission was removed to be rebuilt and the flywheel (flex plate) is still on the car. The trans. seems to be cast iron and very heavy! I Will rent a transmission jack for sure!

Be sure to put the convertor into the trans before installing it. You should lube the seal and the convertor drive lugs with a white lube and the put it gently into the trans. Then while turning the convertor, gently push it into the trans until you feel it "drop" in and hear a rubbing sound as you turn it. Then put a metal strap across the lower bolt holes to hold it in place while you elevate the back of the trans to get it up into place.
Check for the alignment Xs on the flexplate and the convertor and line them up. These are the factory balance marks....
A shop manual for your car would be a great help....

Thank You Chev Nut and Coley, that info realy helped a whole lot! I got the transmission in and yes it was a REAL BEAR! I just have to hook up the tourque tube drive shaft and make up new lines. Does anyone know where I could find a spedometer gear that screws into the transmission?

Actually the gears were sold as a matched set.Don't hook-up the U joint until you have both gears (new)so the drive gear can be installed.

Try ChevB-I will find his Email address for you

If my "50 PG ever needs to be removed you can come up and do it for me I changed the PG in my '57-it was heavy but could be lifted straight up for installation.

Hey Guys
I can't find type-A fluid for the powerglide. What are the best types to use on today market?
Also does the u-joint get lubed by the transmission fluid?

General Motors recommends Dexton III for all automatic transmissions they made.Its a highly improved version of old fashioned Type A.

The U joint gets lubricated from the transmission fluid.If you look closely (and have the correct bolt) -the bolt that fastens the front yoke of the transmission to the rear shaft of the transmission has a small hole in the center.There is a jiggle pin in the hole that meters the fluid into the U joint ball...it(the fluid) slowly returns back to the transmission.
It is not necessary to pre-fill the U joint ball with fluid as is suggested for a standard transmission.Follow the book on filling PG with fluid or it will end up on the floor.

Thanks for that information Gene...hope everyone who needs to know this finds your post. :eek:

Thanks So Much Chev Nut!
I am going to look at the Book to make sure I got the right bolt with the hole in it.