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Mark Serva · 10-26-2023, 02:49 PM

True that about torque converters. The early one's I think Buick put them on their Roadmasters had a free wheeling TC. Don't know if that was hype or reality. Then, the early 2 speed TorqueFlites (Mopar) had a double pump so they could be push started to overcome the "can't push start" objection from the day. They later had to drop the pump to fit a 3rd gear. I heard, yet don't know, that TESLA was going to use a modified 2spd PowerGlide (GM) without a TC on one or more of their models. The PowerGlide, tho often called a "slushbox" uses, I've read 19HP, making the least power hungry of autos. Unfortunately the limited gear ratios make it less efficient. Don't know what a 3spd manual wastes in power if one includes shifting gears in the mix. They do get hot yet not nearly as hot as an automatic.

The "best" automatic I ever saw was the one VW put on the late run of Buses. It was something of a torque doubler getting going and had an internal fan in the TC. I saw some figures where it got better gas mileage than the average person using a clutch. Of course, the average person, ain't none of us, right?

10-26-2023, 02:49 PM	#40 (permalink)
Mark Serva EcoModder returning Join Date: Oct 2023 Location: District of Columbia Posts: 12 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	True that about torque converters. The early one's I think Buick put them on their Roadmasters had a free wheeling TC. Don't know if that was hype or reality. Then, the early 2 speed TorqueFlites (Mopar) had a double pump so they could be push started to overcome the "can't push start" objection from the day. They later had to drop the pump to fit a 3rd gear. I heard, yet don't know, that TESLA was going to use a modified 2spd PowerGlide (GM) without a TC on one or more of their models. The PowerGlide, tho often called a "slushbox" uses, I've read 19HP, making the least power hungry of autos. Unfortunately the limited gear ratios make it less efficient. Don't know what a 3spd manual wastes in power if one includes shifting gears in the mix. They do get hot yet not nearly as hot as an automatic. The "best" automatic I ever saw was the one VW put on the late run of Buses. It was something of a torque doubler getting going and had an internal fan in the TC. I saw some figures where it got better gas mileage than the average person using a clutch. Of course, the average person, ain't none of us, right? Last edited by Mark Serva; 10-26-2023 at 02:57 PM..