The two-speed automatic PowerGlide transmission has been around for over half a century, but with companies like ATI putting their finishing touches on these units, performance enthusiasts continue to count on “old-school” PowerGlides in racing applications. That’s because of the durability that transmission companies have added to these transmissions over the years, making them a favorite in the racing industry.

ATI offers several different PowerGlide transmissions, from their Footbrake and 1.76 Pro Glides to their SuperGlide 1, 2 and 4, giving you the perfect transmission for racing applications rated up to 3,000hp. Image: ATI Performance Products

So you know you want a PowerGlide transmission, but do you know exactly how it works? Well, thanks to ATI Performance Products, they’re letting you in on some of the ins and outs of their PowerGlide systems. Check out the video above, compliments of ATI’s Facebook page, to see just how their PowerGlide transmission changes gears with you at the shifter.

From the beginning of the video, you’ll find yourself face to face with the internals of the PowerGlide transmission. Along the top side of the casing, you’ll see the detent, the gold piece of hardware attached to a spring. This is what clicks through the gears when you shift. In front of that (and under the plate) is the “rooster comb,” which rotates under the detent to select which gear the transmission is in.

The rooster comb is attached to the manual valve which moves and redirects fluid inside the transmission’s valve body when you shift so that the transmission actually goes into the gear you select. While not a terribly complicated process, without the proper movement of these few components, you could find yourself with a transmission that won’t shift when you ask it to.

Understanding that your car changes gears when you shift with a PowerGlide transmission is one thing, but knowing how the process works is another. Now with this basic information gathered from this video, you can better understand the workings of your personal PowerGlide transmission and make educated decisions when it comes to future performance upgrades. The more you know, the further you’ll be able to go in the industry.

Chris Rini uses an ATI SuperGlide 4 transmission and Outlaw converter in his 1969 Pro Mod Camaro. If this Camaro breaking into the 5-second quarter mile club at the 2011 NMCA Finals isn't enough to convince you that an ATI PowerGlide transmission is a durable racing component, we don't know what is.