Opinions on TCI transmissions

[burnoutking-1]

  Now I'm confused....     I thought a 4 pinion planetary was one of the most important upgrades.

I'm gonna run a list by you, and see what you think.

-Race rebuild kit incl.  red eagle clutches, kolean steels, teflon rings.
-Red lined bands.
-thicker 2nd gear band strut.
-3.8  or 4.2 band lever.
-overrunning sprag race with new springs/rollers   
-new pump rotors/bearings
-new bushings/ thrust washers
-aluminum deep pan w/ filter extension
-trans-brake valve body with low band apply

approx. $950 for me to get the parts plus shipping or order the complete tranny with other oiling mods,polishing, etc for $1550 plus shipping.

This tranny is supposed to handle(and no doubt it has proven it can)  9-10 sec. 3600 lb cars, so I am guessing that would be 700-800 hp at least.

The only concerns I have(and probably shouldn't), is that this is not using any billet drums or servos, which from my understanding were a couple of the biggest issues with higher horsepower.

Or am I reading into it wrong, is it that the only time they were a problem was from high rpm 1-2 burnouts, driveline breakage, or whatever.

 

[tactransman]

Looks good to me. The low band apply valve body eliminates the need for the billet direct drum. ( no way for the driveshaft to over run the trans gear train)

[moparmaniac59]

I don't claim to know diddly about automatic transmissions. I had my 727 built by a very well respected local machine shop owner/friend and Mopar racer (he also built my engine & races a 7 second 1/4 mile Mopar). I didn't pay anywhere near 1K for it. I think he charger me $150 bucks plus parts & that's where the money was. I do however have a TCI torque converter and it was about $900 bucks but it's for my big block which is over the 600 HP range and it does great. The folks I talked to at TCI were very helpful and seemed very knowledgable, but I talked to an old school guy that had been there for many years and he seemed to know his stuff. I was surprised to hear all the buzz about the tech folks at TCI that didn't seem to have a clue what they were talking about, but may have been someone at a phone center that has no formal automotive/transmission education. 

                                                                       Matt B.

[zijmer]

maybe add a billit rear servo from sonax.

[brads70]

Good decision! Build it yourself! Even if it's just for the personal satisfaction! Terry is great guy very knowledgeable with tranny's! Good of him to offer to help! 
 I built a TH350 once years ago as I couldn't afford to buy a built one.  It cost me less than $200. Not including the torque convertor. I bought a book on how to build that tranny and followed it page by page I went to a local tranny shop to get some extra bushings and they laughed at me and told me to come back when it doesn't work.
I beat the snot out of it for 5 years behind a 383 stroker ( Chevy) then a buddy blew his tranny outta his stock car and was in a bind so I gave it to him. He ended up winning the championship and used it the following season, then sold the car. It's still going in one of the tracks "school cars"