FTI Performance
FTI Performance is a private Florida-based manufacturer of high-performance automatic transmissions and torque converters for drag racing, street performance, and diesel applications, selling direct-to-consumer through its e-commerce site to automotive enthusiasts and professional racers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersDeland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What FTI Performance does
FTI Performance is a privately held US manufacturer of high-performance automatic transmissions and torque converters, headquartered in Deland, Florida, and operating under the legal entity FTI Converters LLC. The company was founded in 2008 by Greg and Phaedra Samuel as a torque-converter specialist serving the drag racing community, and was acquired in 2019 by NHRA Funny Car driver and entrepreneur Paul Lee, under whose ownership it rebranded from FTI Converters LLC to FTI Performance. Its catalog spans TH400 transmissions rated from 800HP to 2,000HP, Powerglide transmissions rated up to 2,200HP, 700R4, 4L80E, and Tremec (manual) transmissions, plus a deep line of torque converters organized into Street Race, Drag Race, Mud Race, and Diesel series across GM, Ford, Mopar, and Toyota platforms, with flagship offerings like the TFX and XPM lines rated for applications up to 5,000HP. Supporting categories include Powerglide, TH400, 4L80E, 700R4/4L60E, Ford, and diesel transmission parts, flexplates, coolers, lubricants, branded merchandise, and factory services such as converter freshen-ups, re-balancing, SFI recertification, and dyno testing.
The company's underlying technology centers on precision-machined billet aluminum valve bodies, race-prepped internals, and matched transmission-converter pairings engineered to withstand extreme horsepower and repeated launch conditions. Its business model is direct-to-consumer e-commerce through ftiperformance.com (a BigCommerce storefront), with publicly listed unit pricing for most products (converters from $449 to $3,699; transmissions from $2,449 to $6,799) and quote-based custom builds routed through a build sheet submission for torque converters. There is no dealer network or retail storefront; products ship directly to customers and the Deland facility accepts units for service and customization. Customer segments are primarily performance racing enthusiasts, drag racers competing at amateur through Pro-Mod levels, and diesel truck owners, with a secondary street-performance use case for daily-driver upgrades.
Financially, FTI Performance is privately owned and operated by Paul Lee with no disclosed venture or institutional investment, no disclosed revenue figures, and no public filings. The company employs 11-50 people, distributes exclusively within North America, and has shown accelerating product expansion in late 2025 with the launch of four new product lines in October-November alone, including the 4L80E platform, the TFX extreme-boost converter series, complete TH400 transmission kits, and 10R80 Mustang converters. Marketing is concentrated on the e-commerce site, search-engine optimization, and organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), supported by downloadable technical resources and a blog/news section.
FTI Performance firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FTI Performance
- Legal name
- FTI Converters LLC
- Website
- https://ftiperformance.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- FTI Performance is a private Florida-based manufacturer of high-performance automatic transmissions and torque converters for drag racing, street performance, and diesel applications, selling direct-to-consumer through its e-commerce site to automotive enthusiasts and professional racers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FTI Performance industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performance Automotive Driveline Components
- NAICS
- Motor Vehicle Transmission and Power Train Parts Manufacturing (336350), Speed Changer, Industrial High-Speed Drive, and Gear Manufacturing (333612), Mechanical Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (333613)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Transmission & Transaxle Manufacturing (Manual/Automatic/DCT/CVT) (IMACAHAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Passenger Vehicle Transmission & Drivetrain Systems Manufacturing (ICE) (IMACAAAG), Engine & Powertrain Repair (Transmission/Drivetrain) (TLAKAAAE)
Keywords
Where FTI Performance is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Deland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
FTI Performance business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Complete Transmissions Sales: Sale of fully built high-performance automatic transmissions including TH400, Powerglide, 700R4, 4L80E, and Tremec transmissions at various performance levels with MSRP pricing ranging from $2,449 to $6,949
- Torque Converters Sales: Sale of performance torque converters across multiple series (Street Brawler, Street Racer, Super Street, Drag Race, Mud Race, Diesel) with pricing from $449 to $3,699
- Torque Converter Services: Service offerings including freshen-ups, restalls, leak checking, re-balancing, cut/clean/weld, and upgrades performed to exacting standards matching FTI's own product quality
- Transmission Services: Transmission troubleshooting, SFI recertification, and dyno testing services
- Transmission Parts & Components: Aftermarket parts including valve body kits, U-build-it kits, frictions, steels, gaskets, seals, bushings, bearings, shafts, drums, servos, and complete rebuild kits
- Transmission Kits: Complete TH400 and 4L80E transmission kits including fully built transmission, matched torque converter, and essential components for seamless installation
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | TH400 Transmissions - $2,449 to $6,799 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Powerglide Transmissions - $2,899 to $6,025 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 4L80E Transmissions - $4,099 to $5,995 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 700R4 Transmissions - $2,950 to $4,799 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Tremec Transmissions - $2,895 to $4,995 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Torque Converters - $449 to $3,699 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Diesel Torque Converters - $859 to $1,499 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Transmission Parts - $1.39 to $1,459 |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Converter Build - Quote-based |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
FTI Performance product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FTI Performance manufactures and sells high-performance automatic racing transmissions (TH400, Powerglide, 700R4, 4L80E, Tremec) and performance torque converters (Street Race, Drag Race, Mud Race, Diesel series) for automotive racing and street performance applications. The company complements its transmissions with a full line of transmission parts (valve bodies, kits, frictions, seals, planetary kits) and offers factory-level services including custom converter builds, freshen-ups, restalls, dyno testing, and SFI recertification, serving customers from street-performance hobbyists to 5,000HP Pro-Mod professional racers.
Product overview
FTI Performance is a manufacturer of high-performance automatic transmission and driveline components for the racing and performance automotive market. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio organized around two core product lines: (1) Transmissions including TH400 (Level 3-5, 800HP-2,000HP, plus 4X4 Off Road variants), Powerglide (Pro/Bracket/Mud Series, Level 3-5.5, 1,000HP-2,200HP), 700R4, 4L80E, and Tremec (manual 5/6-speed); (2) Torque Converters spanning Street Race, Drag Race, Mud Race, and Diesel applications across GM, Ford, MOPAR, and Toyota platforms in series such as Street Brawler, Street Racer, Super Street, STX, SSW, PM10, PML, TFX, and XPM (up to 5,000+ HP). The portfolio is complemented by extensive transmission-specific parts (Powerglide Parts, TH400 Parts, 4L80E Parts, 700R4/4L60E Parts, Ford Parts, Diesel Parts), converter hardware, flexplates, coolers, lubricants, and factory services (converter freshen-ups, restalls, transmission dyno testing). Complete TH400 Transmission Kits bundle the transmission with matched converter and installation components for turnkey builder solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- TH400 Transmissions
Quantifiable outcome
- Transmission power ratings from 800HP to 2,000HP depending on build level
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use FTI Performance
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
FTI Performance technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
FTI Performance partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
FTI Performance competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- TCI Automotive: TCI Automotive manufactures performance automatic transmissions, torque converters, and drivetrain components for racing and street performance applications. It is one of FTI's most direct competitors in the performance transmission and converter aftermarket.
- Hughes Performance: Hughes Performance builds high-performance automatic transmissions and torque converters with strong drag racing heritage, including Powerglide and TH400 specialties. Directly comparable product overlap with FTI's core racing transmission offerings.
- B&M Racing & Performance: B&M Racing manufactures performance transmissions, shifters, torque converters, and cooling components for street and racing applications. Overlaps with FTI in torque converters and performance automatic transmissions.
- ATI Performance Products: ATI Performance Products manufactures race-proven torque converters, flexplates, and driveline components primarily for drag racing and Pro-Mod applications. Direct peer in the extreme-horsepower converter segment where FTI competes.
- Coan Engineering: Coan Engineering builds high-performance automatic transmissions and torque converters for drag racing, street performance, and off-road applications. Comparable product positioning and customer overlap with FTI.
- GearStar Performance Transmissions: GearStar builds custom high-performance automatic transmissions (TH400, 700R4, 4L80E) and offers converter and rebuild services. Direct comparable in the performance transmission build/sales business model.
- Proformance Transmission: Proformance Transmission is a rebuilder and seller of performance automatic transmissions (TH400, Powerglide, 700R4) with custom build services, closely mirroring FTI's Powerglide/TH400 specialty.
Broad incumbents
- Tremec: Tremec is an established OEM and aftermarket supplier of manual performance transmissions (TKX, T-56 Magnum, Magnum XL) — products that FTI resells/integrates — making Tremec a both a supplier and adjacent incumbent.
- Richmond Gear: Richmond Gear is a long-established manufacturer of gears, differentials, and driveline components for racing and performance vehicles. Broader incumbent in the performance driveline space that competes for the same enthusiast buyer.
Emerging players
- US Shift: US Shift manufactures electronic transmission controllers and converters for swapped/modified applications, partially overlapping with FTI's transmission ecosystem though focused on controls rather than complete units.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
FTI Performance social profiles
Digital presenceFTI Performance financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FTI Performance leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
FTI Performance funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FTI Performance M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about FTI Performance
What does FTI Performance do?
FTI Performance manufactures and sells high-performance automatic racing transmissions (TH400, Powerglide, 700R4, 4L80E, Tremec) and performance torque converters (Street Race, Drag Race, Mud Race, Diesel series) for automotive racing and street performance applications. The company complements its transmissions with a full line of transmission parts (valve bodies, kits, frictions, seals, planetary kits) and offers factory-level services including custom converter builds, freshen-ups, restalls, dyno testing, and SFI recertification, serving customers from street-performance hobbyists to 5,000HP Pro-Mod professional racers.
Is FTI Performance a public or private company?
FTI Performance is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was FTI Performance founded?
FTI Performance was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is FTI Performance based?
FTI Performance is headquartered in Deland, United States, in the North America region.
How does FTI Performance make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Complete Transmissions Sales are the primary driver. The others are torque Converters Sales, torque Converter Services, transmission Services, transmission Parts & Components and transmission Kits.
Who are FTI Performance's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are TCI Automotive, Hughes Performance, B&M Racing & Performance, ATI Performance Products, Coan Engineering, GearStar Performance Transmissions and Proformance Transmission. Broad incumbents are Tremec and Richmond Gear. US Shift is listed as an emerging player.
Does FTI Performance have an API?
No public API is recorded for FTI Performance.
What industry is FTI Performance in?
FTI Performance's product category is Performance Automotive Driveline Components. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACAHAE, Transmission & Transaxle Manufacturing (Manual/Automatic/DCT/CVT), with a secondary code of IMACAAAG, Passenger Vehicle Transmission & Drivetrain Systems Manufacturing (ICE). Its NAICS code is 336350 and its SIC code is 5013.