<VV> RE: Towing Per the Tech Guide

[Padgett]

>  I question that
>if towing causes that much heat to be generated to harden up seals, what
>kind of heat is generated when the transmission is under load?

The issue is not related to load but rather a lack of lubrication - if a 
wet bearing runs dry it will heat and ultimately seize. Not pretty. The THM 
transmissions I am used to had a torque converter driven pump that did not 
operate when the engine was stopped, the usual technique to flat tow was to 
drop the drive shaft.

Apparently the Corvair powerglide (going from reports, I do not know) has a 
"rear" or driveshaft driven pump that would keep ATF flowing to the needful 
points. If so there would be no problem with the transmission.

I suspect that even so it would not hurt to start and run the engine 
briefly at stops in a long trip.

Padgett