Powerglide transmission question

[drumyn61]

AAA towed my truck home the other day and they didn't use a flatbed, instead they hitched it from the front bumper.

As we towed it into my driveway there was smoke coming off the trans and the smell of burnt fluid splashed all over my firewall. it looked like it was coming out of the trans dipstick tube.

I pulled the motor and could tell that the torque convertor was discolored from extreme temperature.

It now paints a stripe of fluid down the street any time I drive it, Does anybody know what the heck could have happened?

Does an aluminum powerglide bolt into place where an Iron powerglide comes out? Is it the same shift levers and such?

[Chevy Fleetside]

You are not supposed to tow an automatic on it's wheels unless you disconnect the drive shaft or put the small wheels under the rear wheels. I think You need to call AAA and complain and don't just go away, give them hell they fried your tranny.

[cg285]

if you had an iron pg it has a rear pump and towing should not be a problem

[drumyn61]

Originally Posted by cg285

if you had an iron pg it has a rear pump and towing should not be a problem

Then why was it spewing out fluid and smoke?

[cg285]

Originally Posted by drumyn61

Then why was it spewing out fluid and smoke?

don't know, wasn't there. don't know if he has a ci pg either

[drumyn61]

Originally Posted by cg285

don't know, wasn't there. don't know if he has a ci pg either

what is a ci?

[Chevy Fleetside]

Why don't you ask a trans shop about this. You can't tow an automatic with the drive shaft turning. At certain speeds the trans will turn and build up heat. Since the truck is not running the fluid is not getting cooled.

[cg285]

Originally Posted by Chevy Fleetside

Why don't you ask a trans shop about this. You can't tow an automatic with the drive shaft turning. At certain speeds the trans will turn and build up heat. Since the truck is not running the fluid is not getting cooled.

you can with ci powerglide and, i believe, turboglide (both have rear pumps that circulate fluid) and allison (500 miles)
the transmissions that most of you guys use that is correct

[drumyn61]

Originally Posted by cg285

you can with ci powerglide and, i believe, turboglide and allison (500 miles)
the transmissions that most of you guys use that is correct

I guess I forgot to say that is is a cast iron transmission.

[drumyn61]

AAA is being a dick(of course).

Does anyone have a 1960 chevy truck manual that they could scan the page describing towing for me?

[ImpalaJim]

my boy hit a deer with my 2000 s10. The great tow company my insurance company sent did that (I was no where near). I ended up with a new tranny. I was always told never tow an auto from the front. Heard that as little as 3 miles would toast one

[jtrichard]

I was thinking the tow driver possibly put the trans in a drive gear and NOT neutral .....then i found this ... http://www.trifive.com/forums/showthread.php?t=117675

[drumyn61]

Originally Posted by jtrichard

I was thinking the tow driver possibly put the trans in a drive gear and NOT neutral .....then i found this ... http://www.trifive.com/forums/showthread.php?t=117675

DUDE, THANK YOU!!!!

You have saved the day.

[63 & 64 Bowties]

I was a wrecker driver back in the early 80's. We were told NEVER tow a rear wheel drive car from the front without disconnecting the driveshaft first. We did mostly police calls, accidents, so since most accidents involve at least one front-end damage, we were pulling lots of driveshafts back then.
As others have said, call AAA or maybe better yet, the towing company.