IMVHO, as far as super t-10s go an old GM over the counter "power brute" ST-10 is the strongest out there. Iron case, iron midplate, high nickel gears, good stuff. I spent quite a few months locating mine (2.88 first version) that I will use for my new project. As for what you should do, I suppose that it depends on how much you are willing to spend. If you want the best ST-10 you can get, I'd give the guys a call at SK speed in long island. Tell them you want you want, and they will build it for you. You can have them do all kinds of custom modifications as well. Top of the line, but not cheap.

Richmond ST-10s have the high nickel gears but aluminum main cases and midplates(their weak point). They are pretty strong as is, but for major abuse on slicks, the iron main case and midplate would be stronger.

I managed to pick up my Power Brute for just under 800 bucks. I could probably use it as is considering that it is in fantastic shape but I will have it stripped and freshened up before using it, just in case. I figure that I will have another 4-600 bucks into it before it will be ready for worry free abuse. So say 1200-1400 bucks, similar to a new aluminum case Richmond trans, but with the piece of mind of the iron case and midplate.

FWIW, I've seen bare iron main cases for ST-10 go for around 80-100 bucks or so and iron midplates go for 60 bucks or so, but you have to keep an eye out for them on E-bay, etc. Tranny shops will almost certainly charge more for them as they are hard to come by. If you had these two pieces and a Richmond ST-10 to freshen up, you could have a shop swap in the iron main case and midplate with the Richmond internals and tailhousing and you would have about as strong a ST-10 as you are going to get .


Hope this helps...