Gearstar Performance
Custom Transmission Build Team
- torque converter matching
- dyno testing
- transmission installs
- GM performance automatics
- Ford performance automatics
- Mopar performance automatics
Gearstar Performance Transmissions has been hand-building high-performance automatics in Akron, Ohio since 1996. Every unit is assembled start to finish by one builder, matched to the customer's engine, gearing and intended use, then dyno-tested before it ships. The build team writes here about transmission specs, install procedures, torque converter matching and what actually holds up behind real power.
How the Right 700R4 Torque Converter Transforms Performance
Gearstar Performance 6 minute read
If you’ve ever finished a round of engine upgrades: camshaft, intake, headers, maybe even EFI, and then felt underwhelmed the first time you left a...
Essential 6L90 Transmission Upgrades
Gearstar Performance 8 minute read
If there’s one thing GM got right with the 6L90 transmission, it’s that they built it to survive real work. Found behind heavy-duty trucks, performance...
4R70W Transmission Controller Explained
Gearstar Performance 6 minute read
This guide explains the 4R70W transmission controller, the electronic brain that commands shifts and lockup. Learn why factory computer control fails for...
4L80E Direct Drum in Performance Rebuilds
Gearstar Performance 7 minute read
In the hierarchy of critical components inside a 4L80E, the direct drum rarely gets the attention it deserves. Builders often focus on shafts,...
What Is a Billet Direct Drum? Strength, Design, and Why It Matters
Gearstar Performance 7 minute read
If there were a popularity contest in the world of transmission components, the direct drum might not even get an invite. Most people don’t know it...
Valve Body Basics: What Does a Valve Body Do in a Transmission?
Gearstar Performance 10 minute read
So, what does a valve body do in a transmission? It directs pressurized fluid to the right clutches and bands at the right moment. The transmission valve...