1957 Powerglide

[Mike N.]

Can anyone tell me how long the "dip stick" is for a 1957 Chevrolet cast iron Powerglide??

Thank you in advance,
Mike

[Joe L.]

Re: 1957 Powerglide

Mike----

GM says it was 14-5/16" overall length. It was GM #3720106 and that number may or may not be stamped on the blade.

[Roy B.]

Re: 1957 Powerglide

Now that joe gave you the size 55 to 61 Corvette should all be the same even some early chevy cars

[Mike N.]

Re: 1957 Powerglide

Thanks Joe,

I read an article by Mr. Ernst which mentions that the car tube and dip-stick is shorter than the Corvette. I have a 1957 car transmission and the dipstick is 15 1/4 inches long. My transmission was rebuilt before I installed it. I just got my car running (7 year project) and the transmission will NOT engage in any gear. I suspect it is my linkage.............
To add to the mess, I had to replace the 7 inch tail shaft with a shorter one from a 1960 transmission due to the output shaft being no good on the original trans. Now I'm thinking my shift pattern is probably in question as well.
I can barely get a fluid reading on the dip-stick and I have tranny fluid on the floor. I haven't investigated the trans yet..............

Thanks again,
Mike

[Roy B.]

Re: 1957 Powerglide

A V8 Corvette PG torque convertor looks like this , if not it's a car, be sure to having the engine running when filling the PG. Or it will leak like crazy.

[Mike N.]

Re: 1957 Powerglide

Thanks Roy.......you always come through for me. I'll make sure Dan gets the word of what a great guy your are.......

I sure wish I knew this before (how to fill the trans)........I have quite a bit of fluid on the garage floor and I'm about to try and find out where it is coming from.

Can you tell me exactly HOW MUCH fluid to put in it. I've seen 5 quarts and 3 1/2 in the motor manual I'm using. I sure hope it is 10 like this posting states.

I'll have to review my photos to see what my torgue converter looks like. I was told by the person I purchased the trans that it was a 1957 car trans. It does NOT have the 3 bosses for the shifter. I have the numbers written somewhere so I can research exactly what it came off of.

I have the car OFF the ground........I've been bypassing the solenoid to start it due to my ignition not turning the car over anymore. Maybe it is in gear....I don't want it to shoot out like a missile if it engages all of a sudden.

Thanks again,
Mike

[Roy B.]

Re: 1957 Powerglide

The 5 or 3 1/2 you mention is a oil change not the total amount 9 quarts, if you cant get the car in gear after filling it up e-mail me because you ant going to like what's wrong with it. You said it was rebuilt. ???

[Joe L.]

Re: 1957 Powerglide

Mike-----

I can't help with the other Powerglide problems. However, I can tell you that the 55-57 Corvette Powerglide dipstick was the same as the 1955-57 passenger car dipstick. Your dipstick sounds like it's probably correct. Maybe the tube is wrong.

[Mike N.]

Re: 1957 Powerglide

Thanks Joe..........

I think the ONLY problem I may have is NOT filling the trans with the engine running and NOT having enough fluid in it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

The tube has the holder for the spark plug harness and it looks pretty good. I doubt it is the wrong tube but anything is possible with my project!

Can't wait to drive it around the block-

LG,
Mike

[Roy B.]

Re: 1957 Powerglide

{The tube has the holder for the spark plug harness and it looks pretty good}

Wait you said the tube has a spark plug holder ????????? That's the draft tube not the trans dip stick tube ! Any way that's a ugly color you have there! This is my 57 I got in 1967 looks like your ugly color He He!
FI, PG, PW, PT and hard tops. For nearly 20 years I never saw another color like it, till it was on the front cover of NCRS.I worked for Chevy and it had nearly 80% NOS parts and sure some dealer accessories too.

[Mike N.]

Re: 1957 Powerglide

My BAD.........you are correct, I don't know what I was thinking.
All I can say is WOW! No wonder Dan painted his '56 cascade green and asked me more than once if that was the color I was going with. I always LOVED that color and always will. The fewer out there the better!

I purchased my '57 tranny from Dave Ferguson; bought a complete rebuild kit on the internet and took the trans to "Orozco Transmissions" in Oxnard in 2002.

I'll let you know what happens after I top it off with fluid........

Thanks again,
Mike

[Roy B.]

Re: 1957 Powerglide

Dave Ferguson is a old friend 30 years or more, we stay at his house when we go to Southern ca. A great guy and knows more about 53 to 57 then most people for got. Some day they will make a movie of his life (test pilot)