Overhaul gaskets, seals and sealing rings plus a Raybestos RCP96-036 friction pack for rebuilding a 1969-1979 GM TH350 or TH250 on the bench.
This kit is for the person rebuilding a 1969-1979 Turbo 350 on the bench who wants the soft parts and the friction plates in one box without paying for steels they may not need. It pairs a full overhaul gasket and seal set with a Raybestos RCP96-036 clutch pack, manufacturer part number W44004A. It suits the classic Chevelle, Nova, Camaro, Firebird, Cutlass, Skylark and C10 that has started flaring on the 2-3 shift, engaging Drive late, or leaving a puddle from every seal after decades of heat cycles. It also covers the TH250, the lighter-duty version of the same case.
The TH350 makes its three speeds with three clutch packs, a band and a roller clutch. The forward clutch is applied in every forward gear, the intermediate clutch holds for 2nd and 3rd, and the direct clutch comes on for 3rd and Reverse. Each pack is a stack of friction plates splined to one member and steel plates splined to the other, squeezed by a piston sealed with lip seals and O-rings. When the friction material glazes or the piston seals harden, the pack slips, the slip makes heat, and the heat finishes off the fluid. The RCP96-036 pack replaces the forward, direct and intermediate frictions. The overhaul side replaces what holds pressure in: the case-to-valve-body gaskets and separator plate gaskets, the pump gasket, a cork pan gasket, the front pump seal and rear extension seal, piston lip seals and O-rings for the drums, and the metal and Teflon-style sealing rings. Steels, bushings and hard parts are not in this kit.
Check the fluid level, the modulator for ATF in its vacuum line, and the kickdown cable adjustment first, because each of those alone can cause soft or late shifts in a healthy unit. Then match the slipping range to the clutch that applies in it. A slip only in 3rd and Reverse is the direct clutch, while slip in every range is more often pressure. Our TH350 common problems and fixes guide walks through the range-by-range logic, and the rebuild wear points guide shows what else to measure once the unit is apart.
Listed for 1969-1979 GM TH350 and TH250 units. TH350 model codes did not all use the same plate counts: some codes run four forward frictions and others five, and a few heavy-duty codes run six direct frictions. Read the model code stamped on the case and compare your old stack to the kit before you start. Late lockup TH350C units and 1980-up cases can use different valve body gaskets, so send us the year and VIN if your unit is from that period. Browse every Turbo 350 part on the TH350 collection page.
Two upgrades are worth doing at the same time: a TH350 sprag clutch if the intermediate roller assembly shows wear, and a TH350 shift kit to shorten shift overlap so the new frictions spend less time slipping.
| Transmission | GM TH350, TH250 (1969-1979) |
| Kit type | Master rebuild kit, less steels |
| Friction pack | Raybestos RCP96-036 |
| Overhaul kit | Gaskets, seals, O-rings, sealing rings, lip seals, rubber components |
| Not included | Steel plates, bushings, hard parts |
| Manufacturer part number | W44004A |
| Weight | 4 lb |
Doing this repair right usually means replacing these at the same time. Same transmission, ships together.
No. It has the Raybestos RCP96-036 friction pack and the overhaul gasket and seal set. Reuse your steels only if they are flat and not blued, otherwise buy a steel set separately.
The kit is listed as gaskets, seals, O-rings, sealing rings and frictions. Bushings and hard parts are not included, so plan to source bushings and a filter for a complete overhaul.
It is listed for 1969-1979 TH350 and TH250. Late lockup TH350C units and 1980-up cases can use different valve body gaskets. Send us your year and VIN, or the case model code, before ordering for those units.
It depends on the model code. GM's overhaul data shows forward packs of four or five frictions and direct packs of four to six depending on the code. Count your old plates and confirm they match the kit before assembly.
Any current licensed DEXRON VI ATF is correct for a TH350. A dry rebuild with an empty converter and stock pan takes roughly eight quarts plus the cooler and lines, so have about three gallons on hand and finish the level by the dipstick when hot.
