"Monster" brand TH350?

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xm20k

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Plus side as long as you don't break any substantial hard parts it won't be too expensive or complicated to rebuild.
 

Latvius

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Since it's a camaro don't know if you heard of nastyz28 forum, lots of info and help there.
Monster is prolly like most of them out there, starts out with a good rep and owner who cares. Owner sells, new owners higher bean counters who don't have a column for customer loyalty or company reputation in their spreadsheets and nickel and dime everything to death. Co. eventually goes under because anyone with an internet connection hears how bad they are.
 

BadBowtie

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You never know,maybe you got a good one,and if not a th350 is about one of the easiest transmissions to rebuild,it will be a learning expierience.
That's what I was thinking too Rick. It's a TH350. if these guys really ARE a transmission shop, it should be pretty straightforward. If this were a 700R4 then I would worry...
 

BadBowtie

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Thats what I have always heard, about all of their products, GM transmissions, Dodge transmissions, etc.

The $3k asking price for a TH350 is rather impressive, considering how simple of a transmission they are.
I'm sure that price includes a warranty "gamble" of replacing a transmission once....
 

Midnightmoon

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Since it's a camaro don't know if you heard of nastyz28 forum, lots of info and help there.
Monster is prolly like most of them out there, starts out with a good rep and owner who cares. Owner sells, new owners higher bean counters who don't have a column for customer loyalty or company reputation in their spreadsheets and nickel and dime everything to death. Co. eventually goes under because anyone with an internet connection hears how bad they are.

I will look in to that forum. Thanks.
 

Hunter79764

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x2 on all of the above, I think they started out being somewhat reputable for 4L60's in the LS world, then went to garbage coasting on a good name. I looked into a 6L90 a while back, cost for the unit was the same as a local shop quoted (but without install). Their ready to go unit that would get me running (Main reason I was considering them) was rated at 380 HP when those came factory behind a lot of 6.2's rated at 402 HP, and that was before I did the cam swap to put it closer to 475 HP. Their built unit was still barely rated for it, and I took the info to a local shop who had that combo pegged as a "level 1/stock performance rebuild". Local guy got me a parts list that was solid for 500 hp and turnkey price was about what Monster wanted for their "Monster" unit.

That said, I think most of the negative reviews are more along the lines of overselling their capacity like that, along with a fair share of "Blew up as soon as it was installed", but probably if it is running ok and you aren't pushing the limits of what it is "rated" at, you're fine for a while.
 

MikeB

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The last TH350 I installed was one I bought for $150. It was then rebuilt by a GM trans specialist friend of mine who used some kind of GM overhaul kit. He didn't change or upgrade any hard parts, although I think he said the kit's friction material was improved over stock. The PO had installed a TransGo shift kit, but it was set up for Stage II. With Trans-Go's advice and a free (!) care package, I essentially ended up with a Stage I kit. Also bought a stock rebuilt converter from Trans Star.

Anyway, I ended up spending around $300-$350 total on a trans that would easily handle a mid-performance 350 or 383. Monster's price seems more than a little high. :(

Assuming your car runs and drives, I'd just check the trans fluid level and drive it! Keep in mind that shift points and harsh shifts can be corrected easily.
 

NickTransmissions

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Friends Dont Let Friends by Monster transmissions. Or any "big box" reman company's units for that matter. There are very, very few large, well known companies that build good, reliable units.

The best transmissions come from knowledgeable local builders or niche performance shops.

$3,000 for a TH350 is worth it if it will enable the car or truck to fly under its own power. I would also be willing to pay a little more if it makes the car stealthy to radar as well...
 

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Another vote for NastyZ28. Been a member there for years. I still hit the BS section daily and New Posts here as well. These are my addictions!
 

nbkk43f

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Just echoing the same as others with regard to the "monster" brand - adding some context for my personal experience with them, the pictures speak for themselves.


As a note - the tahoe is still running strong after the rebuild!
 

MikeB

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Monster may sell more transmissions that the next 3-5 companies combined. If that's the case, they'll get complaints than any of those companies.

I have to wonder how many complaints they actually get about their TH350 and TH400 rebuilds. I suspect the vast majority are about the 700R4 and its "E" variants--everything from TV cables incorrectly adjusted to converter lockup improperly wired. I read where Bowtie Overdrives said something like 65% of their customer problems are TV cable related.
 
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Beast496

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Have never bought a trans from Monster, but did purchase a Thor converter in the past (their brand of converter). When I received it, it was immediately apparent that it wasn't the converter I paid for, so after speaking to four different people, shipped it back to them and it took six weeks to get refunded because it sat on their loading dock for two weeks according to UPS claims dept. Never again.
 

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