I looked at TCI, heard mixed reviews about them the last few years.

I ended up going with Gearstar. Bought one of their Stage 3 TH350's and it has been awesome. Has a Yank 2900 stall Convertor and everything has been great. Have about 5000 street miles on it and about 30 passes with drag radials. I put it in about 1-1/2 years back.

I would buy another from them in a heartbeat.

 

another option: I have a street 700r4 they built 7 years ago - still running strong

GM Transmissions

 

 

Best option, IMHO and experience is to pick up a core and find a good local builder.
Just had a TH400 done locally for $1,100 with 34 element sprag and a 4L80 drum added.
And the builder has a solid reputation with all of the guys in CT I race with.
Very satisfied with the transmission.

 

What part of CT? What's the name of that outfit ?

 

I got a TH350 from Performance Automatic in Frederick MD a year or so ago for my dad. They sell through Summit, etc. but are local to me so I picked it up. Very good people to deal with. On bad information I ordered a short tail shaft when a long one was needed, and they were great about correcting it inexpensively and in short order.

 

I have owned two TCI Transmissions the first was a th350 street fighter about 15 years ago transmission was great no issues whatsoever other than it felt a little weird about how fast the transmission would shift from first to second to Third had it checked out by a transmission shop said everything was good. The second transmission I have is a 700R4 that just came with my 71 Chevelle I picked up last year and it seems like everything is good on it except for some reason the car will not roll in neutral backwards. If you check my post I had talked about this a while back never really figured out what was wrong with it ,TCI just told me it was possibly tight bands but not really sure. Before I throw it back in my car I may just have it checked out at a transmission shop to make sure it's all good but otherwise I think they're great transmissions and built pretty solid.

 

Yeah the one I've got that's about 20 years old got pounded and it's still good but things change lol that's why I'm tryin to get the low down on the update . Not lookin good .
Not sure what direction I'm goin yet but it ain't gonna be TCI

 

I have a Super Street Fighter TH350 I bought back in 2015. I DONT like it. It randomly just gives up all drive gears for seemingly no good reason. I have to pull over, and row the shifter around all detents to try to get any drive going again. Expected a quicker harder shift at WOT. Just don't like it. I had a local shop many years ago build one and I liked it better.
I'd go somewhere else.

 

Bought a Gearstar Level III years ago. Lives behind a mild 454. Great trans. Great service. Would buy from them again.

 

Sounds good . You let er have it pretty good there or ?

 

Oh yeah, but I’m only on street tires. They lose traction pretty quick, lol. GS builds to your combination not off the shelf. Tell them what you have and want. Not the cheapest but been absolutely trouble free for nearly 9 years!

 

Nowadays they're pushin 5 grand for a 350 tranny good for 400 hp . Lotta dough .

 

Had dealings with one tci that use to randomly pop into neutral,th400 with about 2000 miles on it He now has a Rossler,nuf said.

 

I had a TCI 700R4 rated to 825hp that lasted 160 miles.
Thankfully Summit refunded the total cost along with the convertor.

 

Sheesh, 5g is outrageous for a street tranny! No idea GS was that expensive these days.

 

I looked on there . That's what they're gettin.
Not from me though lol
You got a 68 Firebird?
Just missed one by a nose 3 weeks ago .
Car was what I'd call 93 percent and original.
Listed 24 grand . I was the second guy on it .
First guy got it .

 

Yeah, wouldn’t get it from me either. Lol.
Sounds like a good deal on that Firebird. Don’t know why but the Pontiacs just don’t bring the money that Camaros do. You don’t see them.
I built this one. Owned the car for many years. 400 Ram Air clone on the outside except for no rocker moldings, hate the look of them, and ‘67 hood tach. Like the tall tachs better. Stock standard interior. Chevy drivetrain. Car is a blast!

 

Not for everyone. Get a core and take apart put it together a couple of times to gain a feel for rebuilding your own. There are many good reads on this and YouTube has a lot of good videos that explained in details. Some tools are required for drum clutch removal. But no real fancy tools. I built 2 TH400 there not that hard. Practice if you have the time. Or go with a local shop or FTI Transmission in FL. Trans rebuild Kits are all over eBay.