C1 Cast iron Powerglide numbers?

[Randy G.]

There are two numbers seen from the bottom of the transmission looking up under the car on a cast iron Powerglide. One number looks like 3708286 with an E54 next to it. The other one looks like it says 3702602 with an E44 next to it. My "over 40" eyes and a casting that isn't very clear might be deceiving me. The 6's could be 8's is what I mean. None of these numbers matches what is in Nowland Adams book. It's in a 1954 Corvette.

What is this transmission out of?

[Roy B.]

Re: C1 Cast iron Powerglide numbers?

All the section of the trans may not fall in the same month or year, depending if your vett is early or late. Each unit of the PG will have a different casting number.Casting numbers may or may not be used as a part number.

[Randy G.]

Re: C1 Cast iron Powerglide numbers?

I guess what I'm trying to find out is whether this is a Corvette transmission or a passenger car tranny. The "E44" and "E54" makes no sense according to what I've read. Everything else about the car is wrong, so I'm just trying to figure out if this is, too.

[Roy B.]

Re: C1 Cast iron Powerglide numbers?

"E44" and "E54"=May 4 1954 and May 5 1954, if you have the right drive shaft going in to the trans you have a Corvette trans, OR a car that used a repro out put shaft and housing.

[Russ U.]

Re: C1 Cast iron Powerglide numbers?

Randy-

I have pics of the numbers on my 54 PG. The first number looks like 3702802 (the 8 could be a 6). Mine is dated E124 (May 12 54). The second number looks like 3703283, dated F14 (June 1 54).

I believe that the GM parts manual for 54 Corvette contains both the casting number and the parts for the PG (I also recall that the numbers correspond to what I have, but I am not positive of that). I don't have access to the parts manual however.

I also recall that Noland's book discussed the casting #/part # issue for the Powerglides in the text somewhere.

Hope this helps,

Russ
54 #3279

[Randy G.]

Re: C1 Cast iron Powerglide numbers?

Russ:

If you ran out and crawled under your '54 and took these pictures for me I owe you one!

Based on your info I guess I have the right tranny. A little good news for a change.

Thank you.

Randy #71454

[Russ U.]

Re: C1 Cast iron Powerglide numbers?

Good to hear you have the right tranny. My 54 (42k original miles) was likely built in the first week of June, and almost all of my parts are dated May or June 1 of 54. I figure the part must be original if the part has a May or June 54 date on it.

You don't owe me. I'm sitting on a beach on Maui, 2500 miles away from my car. But I have a bunch of my 54 car pics stored on my laptop. Gives me something to do in-between Mai Tai's.

Russ

[Randy G.]

Re: C1 Cast iron Powerglide numbers?

You should be playing golf at the Kanapala Beach course. 6:00AM tee time is the best. Trade winds and crowds are low. You should do Bubba Gumps for dinner at least once before you leave. You could ask for a table next to the ocean side of the restaurant but watch out for the glare from the setting sun.

My VIN is 04400 which I believe makes it a July car. But my "numbers matching" engine is dated "A" January. Looking at one of the numbers books there seemed to be a trend regarding VIN's and engine date codes in the list they included that shows verified VIN/engine combinations. Later car gets a later engine...makes sense. However, sprinkled in the list are a handfull of later car/early engines combinations. Maybe the factory didn't completely adhere to the FIFO accounting method concerning the assembly of these cars.

Alo-Ha!