While driving my automatic yesterday I noticed that first gear wasn't shifting until around 4500rpms. So I got the trans fluid changed out and the filter and pan cleaned thinking that would solve the problem, but it didn't. Today I noticed that none of the gears wanted to shift below 3000rpms. Than the more I drove it the worse it got and eventually it didn't want to get out of first or second gear.

The question I have is that I'm pretty sure I need a rebuild but I'm not very familiar with transmissions so I don't know what to ask for? I have headers and a pro charger and running about 450rwhp. I plan on eventually doing heads and cams to achieve a maximum of 550-600rwhp. I want to keep it as my daily driver so I'm guessing I don't want a high rpm stall converter. I'm willing to spend up to $5000 for the build. I'm also looking for better response so should I upgrade to 3:42 gears or will the trans rebuild be enough? I want your opinions on what you would do if this was your car? Any advice you can give me is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your help

 

You're going to want a minimum of 3.42 gears. Also I wouldn't go with anything less than a 3600 converter (that's what I have and I have a lot more motor than you). You're going to want an RPM level 5 (or up trans). Not sure if $5k will cover it, even if you do all the work yourself.

 

Yes RPM or Performabulit have excellent trannys for specific HP ranges---AND have a warranty !!!
Asfar as the 3.42's---I changed mine from the stock 3.15's to 3.42's
Was disappointed with the results--expected more---However if you have 2.73's now i would deff go with the 3.42's
I would absolutely get some sort of stall converter NOW--If your plans include a cam in the future--You'll have to idle up your RPM's from the stock 575 RPM--- or it wil idle very rough--When you bump up the idle to smooth it out --(on my .221/.221 cam I idle at 800) to say 800---You won't be able to hold the car still at a stoplight or it will take a lot of brake effort--that's bescause the STOCK stall is very low -between 1200 and 1400 ---there the car trys to creep forward----getting a stall will make it looser at low RPM's and idle and you won't have to worry---
To keep it street friendy and to eliminate trans temp overheating --i would keep it in the 2400 to 3000 range---A 3600 as mentioned would be great--but more of a racer and not a daily driver--It'll hurt the milage if that's a concern and the trans will get hot all the time--
I know tranny coolers help with higher stalls--but it will be such a beast on the bottom you'll eat up tires-brak output shafts etc---
-I always install a cooler regaurless with any sort of stall just to be safe-- they are cheap---