Auto vs.4 speed. mid year.

[Karl K.]

Hello everyone,
I will be looking a a 66 bb auto next week. The powerglide is not my first choice but
are there any drawbacks investment wise or reliability wise.

Thanks,

Karl

[Jim T.]

Re: Auto vs.4 speed. mid year.

A friend bought a 66 SB with PG a few years ago. If he did not like it, it would be changed to a manual by now. He had never mentioned not liking it and it is still a PG.
Not all know this, with a PG it is one automatic that can be pushed started. Pushed up to about 30 mph and put in gear it will start the engine. I doubt if very many PG Corvettes have been started this way.

[Tom H.]

Re: Auto vs.4 speed. mid year.

Karl !

You'll get 100 replies and everyone will have an opinion. MOST buyers are like you. The PG is not their first choice. However, if the car is special enough, or a great deal, maybe you can live with it.

My advise, in today's market, with the available cars out there. Buy your first choice. No matter what it is. Just my opinion.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Auto vs.4 speed. mid year.

Hello everyone,
I will be looking a a 66 bb auto next week. The powerglide is not my first choice but are there any drawbacks investment wise or reliability wise.

Karl -- If it's a real M35 / L36 combo (engine suffix IQ or IR), it would be very rare -- only 20 so-produced in 1966 M, per Noland's ECL quantities for M35 (pg 365).

[Jim P.]

Re: Auto vs.4 speed. mid year.

I agree with the above. A 66 BB with powerglide is extremely rare. In fact, they are so unusual that I would make sure that it is an original big block car. From an investment standpoint, this car should easily keep up with 4-speed cars. It may even be a better investment. If the car meets the rest of your expectations, I wouldn't hesitate to buy this powerglide. You'll likely never see another one.

I have one of each. Of course, it's fun to shift a high performance sports car but there are a lot times when I just enjoy not dealing with the hassle. I like mine equally well.

[Joe C.]

Re: Auto vs.4 speed. mid year.

Hello everyone,
I will be looking a a 66 bb auto next week. The powerglide is not my first choice but
are there any drawbacks investment wise or reliability wise.

Thanks,

Karl

The Powerglide is a two speed automatic trans. designed by General Motors. It was available primarily on Chevrolet automobiles from 1950 through the early 1970s, although some Pontiac models also used this automatic transmission. There were two primary versions of the Powerglide. The Powerglide transmission introduced in 1950 had a cast iron case and is known as the "Cast Iron Powerglide". The "Cast Iron Powerglide" and was used until 1963, when it was revamped as "Aluminum Powerglide" where its case and several of its other parts were made of aluminum. The Aluminum Powerglide was used from 1963 until it was replaced with the Turbo-Hydramatic series of transmission in the early 1970s. The Aluminum Powerglide is still used today as a racing transmission of choice by many racers mainly for the fact that it only shifts once, and for its extreme durability. It is also possible to purchase all the parts needed to build an Aluminum Powerglide from scratch from most racing parts vendors.

[John M.]

Re: Auto vs.4 speed. mid year.

This only works with the old cast iron PG's. They have a second pump at the rear that acts as the governor.

A friend bought a 66 SB with PG a few years ago. If he did not like it, it would be changed to a manual by now. He had never mentioned not liking it and it is still a PG.
Not all know this, with a PG it is one automatic that can be pushed started. Pushed up to about 30 mph and put in gear it will start the engine. I doubt if very many PG Corvettes have been started this way.