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OT 1953 Chevrolet powerglide engine

B

BhB

Member
I am looking for a 1953 Chevrolet powerglide engine. If anyone knows of one I would appreciate the information about it.

Thank you, Bill
 
Umm, I am not sure but Powerglide was, is a transmission, correct me if I am wrong.
If it's a transmission you are looking for and you need to be correct then you will want a cast iron version.
 
(quoted from post at 11:49:45 08/08/13) I am looking for a 1953 Chevrolet powerglide engine. If anyone knows of one I would appreciate the information about it.

Thank you, Bill
Click to expand...

Bill
I'm thinking a Powerglide is a 2 speed auto trans not an engine.
 
Yes, Powerglide is the name of the Chevy 2 speed automatic transmission. The transmission was coupled to either a 6 or 8 cylinder engine..depending on buyer preference. I don't believe GM built the Powerglide after the model year 1959...but I'm not sure. I owned a '58 Impala with 283 engine and a powerglide transmission. It was rather doggy off the line, but was rather snappy from 25 to 70 as I recall.
 
I expect that the Bill knows that a Powerglide is a transmission.

The 53 Chevys equipped with Powerglide transmissions also had the "Blue Flame" 115 HP engine. The manual transmission equipped cars had the 108 HP "Thriftmaster" engine.

Dean
 
True, but Chevrolet's 265 CI V* did not appear until the 1955 model year. All 1953 Chevrolets were equipped with in line 6 cylinder "stovebolt" engines.

IIRC, the Powerglide transmission was built into the 1970s.

Dean
 
I think the original poster is referring to the fact that in 1953 Chevrolet had 2 engine options.
The manual transmission models had the older style 216 cid inline 6 cylinder, while the automatic or “power glide” models had a 235.5 cid engine with a full pressurized oil system.
 
It may have been built into the '70s: I'm not sure. Our '61 Impala had one, but the '69 had a three speed auto. I know the old power glide was RUGGED.


Glenn
 
I think the "53 powerglide engine was the same as the '54 235ci full pressure oil engines used from '54 on. Maybe not. The '53 stick engines were the old splasher/dipper system.
I think the '54 will bolt in, same motor mounts same trans bolt pattern. It was a much stronger engine. I once got a ticket on I-75 running 85MPH in an old "54 Bel Air PG going back to college. Won't work if you are trying to stay strictly original. That torque tube rear axle system was complicated but very reliable. I once put a v8 in a "51 hooked up to the original transmission and axle and it lasted 50,000 miles.

Try this number in Indiana. He may have one, if he is still alive. I got a '62 axle there a year ago. 1-812-738-3398. HE IS A REAL CHARACTER.

Good luck.
 
The engine is a 235 cid., the powerglide engine had full oil pressure system to the connecting rods and insert rod bearings. The standard tramission 235's had babbit rod bearings and a splash oil system to the rods, just partial oil system. They were called "babbit beaters". I need the engine not the transmission. The powerglide was "slip and slide with powerglide".
 
So what's wrong with the orginal engine?
As long as you have it AND the parts a whole you can rebuild it.
 
I once owned a 1968 Impala with a Powerglide. It was also available in 1969. I am not certain if it was available in 1970.

Rugged it was. Indeed, the Powerglide, despite disparagement from some sources, was inexpensive and light as well as VERY rugged. It also produced competitive performance vis a vis the contemporary competition of the 1950s and early 1960s due largely to the high torque multiplication of the torque converter.

Dean
 
My grampa had a 1964 Chevelle with a 235 engine and 2 speed powerglide transmission. He did get a speeding ticket for doing 90 MPH with it, grandma was along and she was furious about that incident. I'm not sure how many more years the powerglide was available after that.
 
Good old engines. If you are intrested,I have the Offenhauser dual carb intake from my uncle's circle track engine during that era.
Yup,you are correct about inserts vs babbit depending on transmission early on.
 

Our '51 Chevy truck had the non-drilled crank and dippers..216 engine..
In '52 they sold the Drilled-crank engine, with full pressure oiling.
Try to find a 261 Truck engine, it will make more power and looks like a 235..
Used to take 100 Bu Soybeans to the mill with that '51..it would always top the big hill, still in high gear at 13 MPH..!!!

Ron..
 
My 57 Chev, 283 Power Pack and Powerglide would do 85mph in the low gear.Dad was so impressed with that car that he sold his 59 Ford and bought a used 57 with 283 PG. But alas, he lost high gear about 60 miles away from home. Drove it home in low at 65. Drove it down to the Ford garage the next morning. Took the salesman for a quick test drive and bought a 60 Ford. They never realized high was out for several weeks.
 
The orginal has a cracked head and splash oil system, also it is a 216 cid. I would like to travel with the car and feel the full oil system would be better for that purpose. From my research the 235 should fit in the car and weigh about the same. The car is a 1934 Chevrolet, the brakes have been changed to hydraulic instead of the cable brakes. As soon as I find a carpenter to help replace some of the wood I will be ready for the engine.
 
Ron
What is the weight of the 261 and do you think it will fit the drive line parts. Haven't seen at ss lately. email me at that address.
Bill
 
My Dad bought a new Belair (powerglide transmission) in 1953 and it still had the old splash oil setup. The first new oiling system I new of was 1954 models.
 
I suggest you google Chevrolet straight 6 engine.
There is a very good wikipedia article there with the history and some details/specs. 261 was a very good engine too.

May help you out.

I bet that old guy in Indiana has one out in the yard somewhere.
 
Didn't the engines for Powerglide applications have hydraulic valve lifters starting 1n 1953 or 1954? (In addition to pressure-oiled rods.)

I have a late 261 with the factory provision for an external full-flow oil filter that has some scratches in a couple of cylinders, so it needs to be bored.

Just today, I bought, sight unseen a supposedly good running "Doodle Bug" with a 235 in it. NOT sure what year it is, but he claims it has the 4-bolt valve covers (I can't remember if they all did).

Here's a couple of links you MAY find helpful...

http://www.inliners.org/

http://www.jimcartertruckparts.com/Articles/261-Engine.php
 
Well heck why look for a '53?
Why not any powerglide and a six clyinder motor?
GM put 6 clyinder motors and powerglides in cars well into the 60's and I think into the 70's.

Another question is there a specific reason for a powerglide? turbo 350's are pretty popular.

And you might visit a GOOD salvage yard--in Norther Virginia it would be Pick-a-Part.
 
I just,last week, gave my nephew my first car, a 57 Belair 4 door hardtop. It had the 283 that I rebored to make it a 292, with a 2 speed auto in it. Drove it in a shed in 66, blocked it up and started it some for the first 10 yrs. It sat for all those yrs. He restores a lot of muscle cars and said the 2 speed trannys are popular with drag cars. he wanted to buy it, made me an offer which was fair. I told him that i couldn"t take that for it. He said he hoped that I was insulted. I told him I was highly insulted and if he would take I would give it to him. He found out I was just jokeing and had intended to give it to him.
 
My first car was a 34 chevy. Wish I would have kept it. I put a ford flat head engine in it. A mistake, as I look back. Stan
 
The 235 six was used up through the 1962 model year in cars. The 261 I believe was the GMC engine, is longer and is a tough fit in that compartment. Check the frame of that 53, they were stamped of lighter stuff, until the 1955 model year, and seen plenty with awful rust out.
 

The P/G is one tough X/mis.With a little work it's about bullet proof.Used in many raceing applications.
 
Have a 1955 Chev 2 ton (2nd series) that blew the original motor -235 I think. Had a 261 long block put in it. Used carb and manifolds. etc from old motor. Its still in truck and still running. Hauled a good many 300 bushel loads of wheat with it.
 
Powerglide is a transmission. They made cast iron early and transitioned to aluminum later. I think they were made into the mid 60s.
 
My second car was a really clean '52 chev. The owner was traveling rt 66 at a speed way to high for a babbitt beater. I installed an engine from a 53 w/Powerglide. Great little car. The 53PG and 54 engines are identical. But, a 55-62 can also be used with a change of waterpump and installing the older front engine mount. The newer pumps sit lower on the engine, but adapters are available to fix that.
 
I'm no expert, but my understanding is that the earlier automatics had a rear pump which enabled them to be push started. I think they could be towed as well without dropping the drive shaft. Sometime later they were re-designed without this pump.
 
Exactly right. Early powerglide models had a rear pump in the transmission that would allow you to push start them. In later models the pump was eliminated.....no longer able to push start them.
 
Just glanced at the other replies. Be sure you get an engine with insert bearings on the connecting rods.
Here are some facts. The 235 was introduced in 1953 and 1962 was the last year for it. In 1954 and later years, all the 235s had aluminum pistons, full pressure oiling, insert bearings on the mains and rods. The oil pressure gauge was 60 pounds maximum. The 1953 Powerglide used that engine. But the 1953 manual shift used the 235 with cast iron pistons, babbitted rods and splash lubrication on the rods. The oil pressure gauge was 30 pounds maximum.
 

A friend had a 261 in a '53 Chevy and drag raced it..
It had a cam but that was all..it was a truck version of the 235..
He had a 216 valve cover modified to fit and got away claiming he had a 216..
Saw him beat a 348 once..
Guy was not afraid of high RPM..!!

Ron..
 
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