Corvair Troubleshooting Advice for your Powerglide Transmission
There are more automatic Corvairs on the road than 3-4 speed transmissions. The Powerglide is a tough tranny that remains one of Chevy's best designs. The list below are common issues and some advice as to how to make the fix.
No drive in Any Gear
Shifter end broken off while N, Snap rings broke off front pump drive, No fluid
Fast upshifts while driving
Broken E-clip throttle valve and is jammed, incorrect throttle valve adjustment, defective Governor
No Upshifts
Spool valve stuck in governor, broken E clip on TV (throttle valve)
Slipping Upshifts
Need fluid, worn out high clutch plates, low band\manual valve out of adjustment
Drives in N
Shift cable not installed into tanny correctly or missing
Late Upshifting
Incorrect TV adjustment, worn out governor outer shaft
Jumps out of gear with load while in Low
Worn out low band or needs adjustment, needs fluid
Hard Downshifts
Idle is too high, vacuum modulator is bad, leak in vacuum modulator line
Pushstarting a PG
Put car in N, push until speed is 20 mph, turn on ignition, shift into low