by Jon Mikelonis

Introduction
You've seen them in mail order catalogs and on your preffered online speed parts website, quality tested automatic transmissions from larger
remanufacturers like TCI or B&M. For years you may have considered options like a "new" remanufactured Ford automatic transmission but for whatever reason, you ended up hunting down a local rebuilder to rework a core you already had on hand. A decision you rationalized as one based on finances and enviromental consciousness (aka recycling). Perhaps you have had some success in the past going this route, but when you move from place to place, finding and keeping a trusted performance transmission shop isn't easy. For those of you who have faced or will soon be facing this common "rebuild it-or-buy it" decision with regard to any Ford automatic transmission, this article highlights FordMuscle's experience in choosing, installing, and road-testing a complete C6 transmission package from TCI. The TCI set-up was ordered to replace the problematic C6 in Project Torino, our fairly modified 460 powered street machine.

	This is the entire package we ordered from TCI. You can see here that installing a new transmission usually requires more than just a torque converter.

Think "Package"
It's easy to get tunnel vision when you need a need a new transmission. Unless you have a clear plan from the get-go and can assemble your own kit with all you'll need from various manufacturers, searching for a local rebuilder to overhaul just the transmission alone can be a mistake. Other than a converter, TCI has recognized that an enthusiast's need for a performance transmission also means they'll be needing a host of matched support parts that make for a successful and quick home install. (i.e., cooler, dipstick, fluid, and shifter). Not to mention, most enthusiasts can benefit from the professional guidance in part selection that only comes from a company who's products are destined for project cars similar to yours. With that said, TCI concentrates more on offering their customers a complete package rather than just a rebuilt transmission.

At first it may seem unusual to think of a transmission as a package rather than just a combo (transmission and converter). However, the package concept is what comes through when reviewing the TCI website, their product catalog, or when speaking to their technical staff. By logically categorizing their performance hierarchy of transmissions and torque converters, it's easy for an enthusiast to get a good sense of what transmission and converter is right for them prior to engaging with a tech representative to discuss vehicle combo and your personal performance expectations.

The sensibility of it all is most evident with TCI's Sizzler®, StreetFighter®, and the Super StreetFighter® line of performance street transmissions. This categorization and naming applies to their entire line of popular domestic automatic transmissions and is the origin of any TCI performance transmission package. We've condensed the Ford line here. Note that the highlighted "StreetFighter®" Big Block C6 is what we finally chose for Project Torino.

The same logic that is applied to TCI transmissions is also applied to their line of off-the-shelf converters. You can see TCI's full line of converters at www.tciauto.com. For our application, both FordMuscle and TCI agreed that the 11" Breakaway (PN 441000) for the Ford C6 with 1.375" crank pilot was right for our street-minded application. In fact, the advertised 2400-2600RPM flash stall was a perfect match with the recommendation provided by Comp Cams for the Xtreme Energy XE274H cam we chose for the Torino's 460 a few years back.

(Outside the Box but Still in the Package)