Torque converters- is high stall bad for 3.08 rear?

[Camarorulz]

I have several questions about torque converters.

1st: where is a good place to get one (I want 2800 stall)

2nd: What brand does anyone recommend? I have heard Yanks mentioned a lot, but what others are out there that can give me good results.

3rd: How much did you buy your TC for? I don't want to pay top dollar when I don't have to

Thanks for any replies..

[ October 07, 2002: Message edited by: Camarorulz ]</p>

[Only4U]

vigilante or yank will run you in excess of $600. 2800 stall is not a good stall to go with if you are going to pay the price of a "high stall" converter. i got an edge converter...3600 stall. talk to the guy, he knows a lot. it costed me $400. here's the website:

www.edgeracingconverters.com

http://www.camarov6.com/cgi-bin/ulti...&f=23&t=001294

http://www.camarov6.com/cgi-bin/ulti...&f=23&t=001274

these also have a whole lot of helpful information when deciding on a torque converter and also which companies build the best...

[Camarorulz]

Would getting a high stall converter be bad for my rear differential? I have 3.08

[AMinor65]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Camarorulz:
Would getting a high stall converter be bad for my rear differential? I have 3.08<hr></blockquote>

The converter's gonna feel "looser" on your car than it would with numerically-higher gears.

[ravenp]

So 1/4 mile gains may not be as substantial?? ie: if you get the converter with 3.42s in mind, expecting .5 seconds, and you put it on first with 3.08's, you may only see .3 for example?

I'm just estimating the numbers for sake of the explanation [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ October 08, 2002: Message edited by: ravenp ]</p>

[LTNone]

I am not sure if this will help you, but I had 3.31 gears in my 76 TA with a 2800 stall behind a 327. I changed to 4.56 gear and gained only a tenth or two. It was clear to me that getting the engine into the power curve faster was more important than the rear end gear ratio. Apparently the torque curve on my 327 was broad enough that I could stay in good power when I shifted with the 3.31 gear.

The only thing I am not sure about is the lock up converter. If there is no negative impact there I would go with the highest stall I could stand.

A higher stall converter will definitely feel looser with the 3.08 than 3.42, but so what.

Also, if the stall is high enough, I do not believe you will notice a difference in your 60' time between a 3.08 and 3.42 (maybe a couple hundreths), because the engine RPMs are not going to be that different at 60'.

Where the 3.42 helps a car with a big converter stall is further down the track. After you shift gears (from 1-2 for example), the RPMs drop down and the easier it is for the engine to get back to the optimal power range, the faster your time.

Since I have a 5 speed in my 3.4, I can't help you with the best stall speed. I can tell you that anything under 3500 will not overpower the right rear with the stock computer in my car. In order to improve my 60' times I will be adding a posi and launching at 4500 or more.

[Only4U]

like i said, read those other topics, they are pretty useful in helping you decide stalls and such.

3600 is what i have--it's probably about the right amount. it seems to be stalling a bit higher than that actually, about 3700. 3800 is the MOST i would ever get just because you will probably lose power once you start getting out of your peak torque area (about 4000 rpms). as far as with a 3.08 rear, do the 3.42/lsd upgrade first. honestly, i have an lsd and i can't get traction worth jack on the open road. i really have to drive my car like a baby. wet roads would be especially dangerous with half that traction.

[Camarorulz]

Thanks, one way or another yes, I will get 3.42 gears, but I was just trying to determine in what order I would do different drivetrain mods, and if doing a TC first would hurt. Thanks for your responses everyone! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ravenp]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Only4U:

as far as with a 3.08 rear, do the 3.42/lsd upgrade first. honestly, i have an lsd and i can't get traction worth jack on the open road. i really have to drive my car like a baby. wet roads would be especially dangerous with half that traction.<hr></blockquote>

okay... cool, but question: with 3.42's you have more spin than i would with 3.08's, so it might not be unmanageable right? talking to acouple others who did the converter first, they said it was fine.

it's just that it's so much cheaper to install that and i dont' have the funds to do both at once :(

[Only4U]

like i said before...if you are going to pay the money to get a torque converter and also go to the trouble to have it installed...might as well get the best converter you can for your car.

if you do get the best, then it will be a pretty high stall, say 3600, where mine is. traction with both rear tires spinning is bad enough; traction with one tire spinning, well, i couldn't imagine.

what i'm trying to say is that i think it's safest to get the gears and lsd first. you could always go with a low stall and then get the gears later on--but i can almost guarantee you will be upset with that decision. i have 3600 stall and i wish i had gone 200 rpms higher, see what i mean?

get a good converter if you are going to get a converter. with 3.08s and an open diff, traction may be no problem. but, i can't guarantee that, and that's why i say to go with the rear drivetrain mods while you are at it [img]smile.gif[/img]

good luck, let me know if i can help ya out any more!

[HAZ-Matt]

At the least do LSD. In all honesty, a 3.08 car might show better results on street tires if you had a high stall.

[Camarorulz]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr> Originally posted by ravenp

talking to acouple others who did the converter first, they said it was fine
<hr></blockquote>

That's what I wanted to hear- that its fine to do TC first.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>originally posted by Only4U:

traction with both rear tires spinning is bad enough; traction with one tire spinning, well, i couldn't imagine.
<hr></blockquote>

Of course this is assuming I'm racing, right, not in day-to-day driving? Also, assuming I have a high stall TC with no LSD: when I race couldn't I simply launch at a lower RPM to keep traction?
You're probably totally right about getting the 3.42s and LSD first, but I'm looking to get the cheaper of the modifications first, whatever that may be.
Thanks again [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ October 10, 2002: Message edited by: Camarorulz ]</p>