TH400 Clutch Module 1964, new and ready to install. Fits the TH400. Ships fast from the USA.
If you are rebuilding a first-year 1964 Turbo Hydra-Matic 400, or a later TH400 that now has to hold more torque than it did from the factory, the friction plates are where the job is won or lost. This is the Raybestos Stage-1 friction clutch pack module, part number RCPS-03: three Stage-1 red intermediate plates at .090 inch and ten Stage-1 red plates for the forward and direct clutches. Raybestos catalogs the pack for every GM TH400 from 1964 through 1998, so it covers the first-year 1964 units this listing is built around as well as the trucks and muscle cars that came after. It is a new pack, made in the USA, and it suits a builder who wants more than stock-grade paper without stepping up to a full race friction.
Inside the TH400 three clutch packs do most of the work. The forward clutch locks the turbine shaft to the gear train in every forward gear, the intermediate clutch is applied for Second, and the direct clutch adds Third and also works with the rear band for Reverse. GM's stock layout uses five lined plates each in the forward and direct clutches and three in the intermediate clutch, which is exactly the 3 plus 10 count in this pack. Raybestos describes Stage-1 material as a step above stock tan or high-energy plates: more holding capacity, more heat resistance and steady piston travel, which is what a street rod, a towing truck or a mild street-strip car needs. The stronger plates hold the clutch locked under load instead of letting it slip and build heat.
New plates will not fix a pressure problem. Check the fluid level, then put a gauge on the line pressure tap and road test through every range. GM's diagnosis charts list a leaking vacuum modulator, a plugged or leaking filter and a sticking regulator valve as causes of slip in all ranges. The TH400 common problems and fixes guide covers those checks, and if the fluid is dark and the filter is loaded with lining, the TH400 filter and pan service guide shows what to look for in the pan before you tear it down.
This page is listed for 1964, the first model year of the TH400, and the RCPS-03 pack itself is cataloged by Raybestos for 1964-1998 GM units. Early units used some parts that changed in later years, the front pump being the best-known example, but the clutch plate count is the same, so compare your old plates for tooth style and count before assembly. A few light-duty versions ran four plates in the forward and direct packs; if yours is one of them you will have spares. Not sure what you have? Send the year, make, model and engine and we will check it before shipping. See all our TH400 parts, or the 1965-1995 TH400 friction module if you prefer an alternative pack.
A friction pack is only half a rebuild, so pair it with the TH400 master rebuild kit for 1964 for seals and gaskets, and inspect the gear train while it is apart; a worn unit can be replaced with the 1964-1965 TH400 planetary.
| Fits | TH400 1964 |
| Part type | Clutch Module |
| Condition | New |
| Brand | Raybestos |
| Ships | From the USA |
| Warranty | 1-year |
Doing this repair right usually means replacing these at the same time. Same transmission, ships together.
Thirteen friction plates: three Stage-1 red intermediate plates at .090 inch and ten Stage-1 red plates for the forward and direct clutches. Steel plates, seals and bands are not included.
Yes, as long as it is a standard GM TH400. Raybestos catalogs RCPS-03 for 1964-1998 TH400 units. Compare plate teeth and count with your old set, or send your year and model and we will confirm.
No. Raybestos positions Stage-1 between stock tan or high-energy plates and its Gen2 Blue Plate Special, aimed at street rods, towing and mild street-strip use. It is meant to give smooth engagements with more holding capacity.
Not always. GM's rule is to reuse a steel plate if it is smooth with an even color and to replace it if it shows heat spots or scuffing. Many builders replace steels on a performance build anyway.
Dexron automatic transmission fluid. Soak the plates in it for at least 30 minutes before assembly and fill the transmission with the same fluid.
