Is a 3500 stall to high for a daily drive 94 with 3.23s? Also is there a difference between an LS1 and LT1 stalls?

 

I know for sure that there is a difference between the LS1 and LT1 stalls. But a C5 stall convertor will work in a LT1 powered car. Just the LS1 Fbody stalls that wont work.

Regarding the 3500 stall being too big, what are your mods? I am about to be BIG cam, 3.73 gears, full exhaust, intake, spray and I am debating on either a 3200 VIG or a 3500 VIG. So if you just have a CAI and catback, a 3500 will probably be too big.

 

First of all, a petty annoyance. There is no such thing as a "stall". In this context, "stall" is an adjective and not a noun. All auto trannies have a torque converter. One of the characteristics of the TC is that it has a certain stall speed. Typcially, when a stock TC is replaced for high performance use, a converter with a higher stall speed is selected. Hence the term, "high stall converter". This is sometimes contracted to "stall converter". Even that phrase is misleading, as all converters have a stall speed. But at least it's a logical description in that is has an adjective (stall) and a noun (converter). But just to say "stall" makes no sense. It's as if, for example, you were thinking about raising your compression ratio, you wouldn't say "I am thinking of putting a compression in my motor". Or installing a bigger cam and saying "I am putting a big in my car".

Anyway, there are two ways a converter can have too high a stall speed. The stall speed can be too high for your motor. Ideally (for maximum standing start acceleration) the converter will stall a bit below peak torque. If you have high revving combo though, this "optimal" stall speed may be so high as to be very annoying in daily driving. It feels kind of like driving a car with a slipping clutch when the stall is too high. However, what is "too high" for one person may be fine for another. In any case, if you have a stock cam, a 3,500rpm stall will be too high for the motor. A stall speed that high is appropriate for a car with head work and a fairly big cam. With that kind of combo, most people find the driving characteristics acceptable. The current converter I am using stalls at ~4,200rpm and I wouldn't like to deal with it as a daily driver.

Another thing to keep in mind: the "stall speed" associated with a particular converter only makes sense in the context of the torque curve of the motor you are putting it behind, the rear end gears, and the weight of the car. The same converter in a hi-po car will stall a lot higher behind a stock motor.

I wrote a brief intro to converters that you may find helpful. Go to www.kennedysdynotune.com and click on "Tech Tips" at the bottom of the left hand menu. Follow the appropriate link from there.

Rich Krause