[scott coyle]

The more I think about this and look at the part, the more I believe the trmec was at its limit of use. There probably are not that many 3800 pound cars with slicks and the power of this vehicle. You add in the gap between second and third gear ratios, a little case expansion, the teeth were just far enough apart, and third gear broke. What rear end gear was in the vehicle. A 4.88 gear would be much easier on everything and make third gear lower. A 3.08 would make the problem worse.

Take the broken parts in and have them tested. My bet is the parts were solid, nothing wrong with them and the tranny limits were exceeded, ever so slightly.

Scott