Bob Ford asks, "What became of the terrific Turboglide?" in his October 28 "Sound Your Horn" letter. He continues on by saying "...the '57s had some reliability problems." The fault wasn't so much the transmission; rather, it was how it was used.
Buick had a nearly identical transmission starting in 1958 and called it Flight Pitch Dynaflow and changed the name to Triple Turbine Dynaflow in 1959. It was beefed up a bit more to deal with the increased torque of the 300-hp engine and was nearly trouble-free. It was discontinued in 1960, and only Turbine Drive was offered.
In those transmissions, all three turbines were used on start-up. At some point in the rpm range, depending upon demand, first one turbine locked up, then two. At cruising speed, only one turbine was mutiplying torque.
There was a "Lo" or "Gr" (Grade Retard, depending on the year) position on the selector quadrant. However, it was not a lower gear range; in that position, the transmission set up a reverse oil flow to slow the car when decelerating hills (because there was no "Lo" gear range).
The problem came when drivers wanting additional acceleration (or when racing) placed the transmission in "Lo" position, thinking they'd get a lower gear.
The transmission was developing torque, and, at the same time, reversing the oil flow, resulting in a great deal of heat. In short order, this would destroy the transmission.
Chevrolets had a greater proprtion of young "racing mentality" owners than the more staid Buick. And, possibly the Chevrolet transmission wasn't quite as sturdily built the first year. There might have been changes made in later years (Chevrolet offered this transmission through early 1960).
