What does "flashing" the converter mean?

[Camarorulz]

This is a newbie question, but someone please clarify it for me.

[Camarorulz]

Anyone?

[99Camaro99]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Camarorulz:
Anyone?<hr></blockquote>

I can "guess" I believe that you can stall the converter two ways.

1.) gradually bring it up and stalling it to "x" RPMs.

2.) I believe "flashing" is like flash boiling a mixture meaning that you bring it up quickly. Basically you just jam the gas real hard and it flashes the converter. It's basically a realy really really HARD launch and puts strain on the whole drivetrain. Once again, I'm NOT SURE. Someone care to correct me if I'm wrong?

[ February 28, 2003: Message edited by: 99Camaro99 ]</p>

[Camarorulz]

Thanks for the reply. I think I've read before that some converters will flash higher than they stall, is this true? Anyone else care to chime in?

[shortdog273]

I'm clueless also.

[John_D.]

Yep, you guys are right. Normal stall is if you ease into it. Flashing the converter is hitting the gas all at once, and it "flashes" a little higher.

The best example I can think of, is if you were pushing water around in a pool by sweeping your right hand from right to left...

If you start out pushing slowly, and pushing faster as you go, you can only push so fast. (depending on the size of your hand and the angle you're holding it.) But, if you get a bit of a head start in the air, and then dip your hand into the water, you can push a little faster.

The vanes in the converter are like your hand (size and angle make a difference), and the transmission fluid would be the water.

Kinda oversimplified, but maybe it helps... [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Camarorulz]

That actually makes sense John_D: Another question, I can flash the converter while power braking, right? I'm trying to figure out a different launch technique other than just stalling it up and letting loose the brake.

[John_D.]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Camarorulz:
That actually makes sense John_D: Another question, I can flash the converter while power braking, right? I'm trying to figure out a different launch technique other than just stalling it up and letting loose the brake.<hr></blockquote>

Sort of... That's more advanced. You can hold it to different rpms, and then flash from there to launch.

For instance you could hold it to 1300 and then smash it, and it should spin a little less than flooring it from idle.

If you powerbrake a stock converter to 2000 and try to flash it though, you won't really get the flash effect. However, it will let you floor it sooner without spinning as much.

Trial and error... [img]smile.gif[/img]