[Hikin Mike]

Originally Posted by ponyakr

"...At least TCI has a predictable quality..."

Not everybody will agree with that.

Agree. Maybe things changed, but 25 years ago I bought their Street Master (I think) Transmission and it failed. My local rebuilt it and said it didn't look heavy-duty.

[242177P]

Originally Posted by Hikin Mike

Agree. Maybe things changed, but 25 years ago I bought their Street Master (I think) Transmission and it failed. My local rebuilt it and said it didn't look heavy-duty.

Similar timeline, I killed one of their Saturday Night Special convertors. Speed shop guy said it was unheard of. Transmission builder said it was all too common.

[77 TRASHCAN]

Originally Posted by 70GS455

Dacco/Transtar makes stock type replacement transmission parts and convertors

Sent from my SM-T817V using Tapatalk

I sold a few of those, and used one, never a problem, but has been a few years since all that happened...

[HWYSTR455]

Hm, I've used both the Street Fighter and Super Street Fighter TH400s, both worked very well and lasted several engines, even with spray. I had the one Super Street Fighter refreshed and it's in the 442 now.

One thing many fail to do is do a couple fluid flush/fills to remove any assembly/break-in debris. This is a critical step to ensure they last. This should also be done at least once when a converter is swapped.



.

[HWYSTR455]

Originally Posted by 242177P

Similar timeline, I killed one of their Saturday Night Special convertors. Speed shop guy said it was unheard of. Transmission builder said it was all too common.

Yeah, in a performance application, you pretty much have to buy the ones with anti-balloon plates. I've heard of the cheap/low level converters letting go with something that has decent torque output. Also, cars with highway type gear ratios put added load on them.

I had a Break-Away in the 442, worked great, but it is a small block. I've run the Break-Away in the LeMans, it worked well, through abuse, and spraying it. I went to a Street Fighter in the 442 for more stall, and my only complaint is it's a little loose at low RPM. (1500-2000 range)


.

[Cliff R]

The last time I tried a cheap "rebuilt" converter it lasted less than a month and pumped the transmission full of ground up needle bearings, not only requiring another complete overhaul but had to replace all the bushings, thrust washers and a few hard parts that didn't like all that hard metal running thru them.\

It was sourced from a local transmission shop where I lived at that time, pretty sure it was from either Dayco or Sentinel.

I'd stay as far away from that sort of thing as possible......FWIW......Cliff

[pastry_chef]

https://www.ebay.com/usr/freakshowperformance2011

$290
GM 350 TH350, TH400, Powerglide Stall 2400 Torque Converter 9.5
1 Year unlimited mileage warranty.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/GM-350-TH35...5/283520456408

[ta man]

Place an ad in the parts wanted section or find a stock convertor locally..I must have at least 10 stock convertors either on transmissions or capped on the shelf..I'm sure there are similiar guys close to you with a stash.

[dataway]

So I've kind of settled on the Hughes GM20-400BP .... However the information on these seems to be all over place .. first of all no one seems to list them as fitting a Pontiac ... even though the part number seems to indicate BOP. Also ... sometimes I see them listed as a 10.75" bolt circle, sometimes 11.5" same part number. Some places say OEM fasteners others appear to be metric.

Some people are saying they are using later model cores for these now and fitment to the old flex plates can be an issue.

Looking at this one: https://www.jegs.com/i/Hughes-Perfor...400BP/10002/-1

Says the right bolt circle (11.5"), has the right number of splines (at least same as the small shaft on my TH400), Pilot OD is right (1.7"), and Input OD is correct at 1.87" ... so is this right for me as far as fitment??

Just a bit worried because I see the same part number listed other places with bolt circle etc. (Hughes has a different part number for the six pad converters).

And .... what's the deal with the bragging about "needle bearings" my old OEM TC has needle bearings.

[77 TRASHCAN]

What ever you end up with beware of what bolt is needed. 10mm has same exact thread pitch as a 3/8 coarse thread bolt. The 10mm is ever so slightly larger. Might be good to have a 10mm on hand to try to test for bolt size...the 10mm won't go into a 3/8 hole...

[69 Limelight]

Ever think of just calling Hughes? 602-257-9591. Their website says they have technicians waiting to answer technical question.

[dataway]

I always start with as much information as I can get from my friends here that I trust

[Steve C.]

Their catalog states need to specify Chevy or Buick/Pontiac/Oldsmobile before ordering.

https://www.carid.com/images/hughes-...ct_catalog.pdf


.

[dataway]

If you look real close it only stipulates that requirement for the TH350 converters. Thanks for that link ... I hadn't seen that catalog before. Was just using the Hughes website.

Just sent Hughes an email with a few questions.

For those that pointed me in that direction, thank you, I like the look of that company.

[Schurkey]

Originally Posted by ta man

Place an ad in the parts wanted section or find a stock convertor locally..I must have at least 10 stock convertors either on transmissions or capped on the shelf..I'm sure there are similiar guys close to you with a stash.

That's what I was trying to convey.

I called my local trans shop. They're still flushing converters, $30/each. I think I was paying $20 or $25 twenty-five years ago.

I've got a half-dozen of 'em on the shelf. If you were local, you could have one for free.

[dataway]

If you were local I'd be hanging out at your house all the time

I could give this place a call.

http://buffomatic.com/

About an hour away.

I have no experience with the longevity or reliability of TCs .... some people tell me to throw on a used one, that 100,000 miles is no problem. Other says it's crazy to put an old converter on a new engine and trans. Since I have no way of personally testing an old one other than looking in it, reaching in and turning one of the splined sections, shaking it etc. it leaves me at kind of a loss. It's a big metal container I can't see inside of or disassemble.

When it comes to drop-off more than an hour away, pick-up, whatever charge for servicing ... almost becomes a wash money wise. Time is a factor ... I've got a big tractor that needs to come in the shop and be split in half.

[ponyakr]

" Their catalog states need to specify Chevy or Buick/Pontiac/Oldsmobile before ordering."

I have to question what possible difference could it make whether a converter was gonna be used in a Chevy or BOP ???

I understand needing cubic inch, cam, torque/hp/rpm range specs, & intended usage info. But, how could a converter tell the difference in a particular BRAND of trans or engine ?

[Schurkey]

Buddy of mine bought a "cheap" Buick Rendezvous AWD. As with so many inexpensive vehicles, the thing was a "car-shaped object" that took years to sort-out. My buddy rebuilt the engine, then the transaxle, and of course, put in a "new rebuilt" converter. Still had problems with trans operation--vibration. Replaced suspension parts (wore out) and corroded AWD wiring connections towards the rear axle, but nothing fixed the vibration. In desperation, he puts in a different rebuilt converter. Bingo. Problem totally solved. For about six months, when the converter clutch quit engaging properly.

ANOTHER rebuilt converter. Another "fixed" problem. I don't remember what happened to that one, but it went about six months then the Buick got parked for a year. Eventually, he ripped out the transaxle again, another rebuilt converter...another fixed problem. Poor bastard should have installed the transaxle using wing-nuts.

This converter has lasted a year and a half as a daily-driver, with some serious mileage in the first few months--180 miles a day round-trip to work.

Now, this is a "stock" converter NOT from the "performance" names--these are "rebuilder" converters from some generic source (or sources.) I think he quit buying one brand, but didn't have much better luck with the next brand he tried. And these are small, lightweight, with a converter-clutch inside that makes them way more complex than the ol' TH400/TH350 converters from The Old Days. That said, I'd way rather have a "good used" GM converter than a "new rebuilt" from the folks who were supplying my buddy.

[TCSGTO]

There is a new Hughes GM-25 in the classifieds for a good price.

[dataway]

Originally Posted by TCSGTO

There is a new Hughes GM-25 in the classifieds for a good price.

Bit too high of a stall for me ... hoping for something 1600-2000 if I don't use a stock TC. I think stock stall was around 1200.