Transmission Opinions/Advice Wanted

[C3L1CA]

As some know my transmission let go about a week ago mid 3rd gear pull so I'm currently looking at building the transmission. I figure its a perfect excuse to upgrade

Little info on my car and what I use it for. Car made 455 at DB this past fall and kind of hoping for a little more come summer, shooting for 500 but who knows if I'll get it that high. Car isn't exactly my daily driver but I will take it to work/class whenever its nice out and feel like having fun on the way there. I do like to beat on the car and plan on going to the track once or twice so the trans needs to be able to take some abuse. I'd also like to only buy a built tranny once so I was kind of thinking on going all out. It's sad think I could possibly spend more on a trans than I spent on the car, but you gotta pay to play. Right?

I was looking at the TRE stage 2.5 and 3, Shep 3 & 4, and the Jacks premium build.

Does anybody have one of these transmissions or has anybody bought a tranny through one of these 3 companies? I'd like to hear about how well the transmission has held up and satisfied you are with it and how ordering went.

Also is a welded diff really that bad of an idea? I don't ever take u-turns and don't plan on doing an auto x'ing with it, just race it at cedar/rock falls. I also realize it'll suck for parking but I figure that'll just be something I'll get used to like not having an idle motor.

But if it is really that bad of an idea throw out some opinions on the other options.

I'm not really set on anything yet so I'd like to hear some opinions and advice on which one you guys think I should go with.

Thanks in advance

[DSMPARTSGURU]

powerglide? and rear wheel drive conversion an option?

[sleepydsm]

I have a Shep stage 3 but only make half the horsepower. Its awesome shifting at redline with no worrys, actually being able to downshift, and having a nice smooth tranny. Car has a 4 spider center diff, double syncro 2nd, "HD 3/4th gear", the stronger Chromoloy forks (option I paid extra for), etc. All the weak points are addressed, but honestly just get a Shep Stage 4, its a few hundred bucks more. I'd also advise against a welded center diff or spool. Get the 4 spider.

[Halon]

I'm running just a TRE stage 1 with the 4-spider diff option. I never really pushed it yet, but so far I have no complaints. Great guy to deal with. He was very helpful on the phone, and willing to answer any and all of my questions. He threw in some shifter linkages for me as well since my tranny situation was all goofy.

He also didn't charge me a core charge, so I got to keep my old tranny and he just shipped me the rebuilt one. Nice because I only had to pay shipping 1 way.

[Super Bleeder!!]

I would get a complete evo3 gearset installed by Jack.

[brando]

i would do the jacks premium, they have been proven to be more than good enough on more than one high horse street build.

[JET]

I have a Shep stage 3 with billet shift forks also. I am making the same HP you are and it has held up well for 4 years (probably 15k miles). The welded center diff really does suck, get the 4 gear spider. If you want to lock them up going to the track, throw a welded VC on.

[C3L1CA]

Originally Posted by sleepydsm

I have a Shep stage 3 but only make half the horsepower. Its awesome shifting at redline with no worrys, actually being able to downshift, and having a nice smooth tranny. Car has a 4 spider center diff, double syncro 2nd, "HD 3/4th gear", the stronger Chromoloy forks (option I paid extra for), etc. All the weak points are addressed, but honestly just get a Shep Stage 4, its a few hundred bucks more. I'd also advise against a welded center diff or spool. Get the 4 spider.

Sounds like you're really happy with your shep and went all out with it. Thanks for the opinion Keven!

Originally Posted by Halon

I'm running just a TRE stage 1 with the 4-spider diff option. I never really pushed it yet, but so far I have no complaints. Great guy to deal with. He was very helpful on the phone, and willing to answer any and all of my questions. He threw in some shifter linkages for me as well since my tranny situation was all goofy.

He also didn't charge me a core charge, so I got to keep my old tranny and he just shipped me the rebuilt one. Nice because I only had to pay shipping 1 way.

Did you pay extra for no core charge? I'm really leaning towards the tre stage 3 at the moment and everything I've read about tre has been really positive.

Originally Posted by Super Bleeder!!

I would get a complete evo3 gearset installed by Jack.

Jacks premium build comes with evo 3 3rd/4th gear but comes with their own machined double synchro 2nd and 1st and is an extra 380 for an evo 3 1st. With the extra evo 3 first it makes it more expensive than the shep and tre which already have the evo 3 1st.
Any reasoning behind reccomending Jack, what do you have in your car?

Originally Posted by brando

i would do the jacks premium, they have been proven to be more than good enough on more than one high horse street build.

Jack does have a lot of good information on his website and seems everybody has really good things to say about Jack as well. I've still got a lot of more reading to do before I spend so much money on a tranny.

Originally Posted by JET

I have a Shep stage 3 with billet shift forks also. I am making the same HP you are and it has held up well for 4 years (probably 15k miles). The welded center diff really does suck, get the 4 gear spider. If you want to lock them up going to the track, throw a welded VC on.

Dang, only 15k in 4 years?! I put 3k'ish miles on my car in the 2 months I drove it and did at least a quick pull to get up to the speed limit every time I drove it

Have you had any problems at all with itl in the 4 years you've had it in the car? Have you always been making as much power as you do now? Also how come you guys went with the steel forks?
According to Jack they really aren't needed with their double synchros
Link


Thanks again for all the opinions and the posts. Really does help the decision process. If anybody else just has good info, please post the links. I always like to do a lot of reading before I blow so much damn money.

Oh yea, anybody have a welded center diff that I could get a ride in and maybe scare me away from it?

[1QUICK4]

Originally Posted by C3L1CA

Oh yea, anybody have a welded center diff that I could get a ride in and maybe scare me away from it?

Talk to Shane, Mara's Talon has a welded diff.