Want to get a torque converter real soon, but don't really know what everyone is using. I'm a bolt-on guy and will be staying that way, and comfort in driving and the way my car runs is very important to me so which is the way to go? I was thinking in the lines of a 2600-2800 stall and no more.

What are my choices?
Which ones to stay away from?
What are the negative aspects of this mod?

Thank-you.

 

I've done converters in stages (it helps when you build automatics for a living). My first stall was a 2500 stall 12" built locally. My second was a 3200 stall 10.5" ProTorque. The one in the car now is a 3800 stall 9.5". The 12" and 10.5" were behind the motor when it was completely stock. 60 ft. times were 1.90 with the 12", and 1.73 with the 10.5".
The new head/cam combination needed more stall. The best the car would 60 with the 10.5" with the new combo was a 1.77. A switch to my 9.5" brought a 1.67.
With the 10.5" behind a completely stock/exhaust manifold 93,000 mile LT1, I went 12.82 @ 106 MPH.

The drawbacks to stall are more heat. It's advisable to put a good trans. cooler on it if you do a stall.

2800-3200 stall is a good number for a bolt-on car.

I'd highly recommend ProTorque (PTC) converters. Precision Industries (Vigilante) is also an excellent converter.

Frank

 

Sure you can go for a Vigilante 2800 it goes around 650-700 bucks. Most places recommend putting a tranny cooler, which is a good idea since your tranny oil will now be getting alot hotter. Keep in mind that sooner or later a tranny repair will be needed in the future i guess thats the only drawback

 

It really depend on what your budget is. I've done a couple of searches and it seems the Vigilante,Yank and TCI are the most popular.

http://www.jrlawns.com/converter/mid3000.htm

 

I have the Midwest 3000 stall converter with a 2.5 STR and I think it's perfect for a daily driver that you want to rod every now and then. I like it. I've had it in my car for almost 2 years with no problems.

I also put in a tranny cooler and a shift kit. You don't have to but it will make your tranny last longer. The shift kit tightens up your shifts and makes it more fun to drive.

My previous car was a 95 Z28 Camaro. I had the 2800 Stall Vigilante with a shift kit and it worked well for about 3 months. Then the TC started vibrating. That's when I traded it in for my 2001. I know that they would have been willing to repair it for free but who what's to keep pulling out there tranny and waiting for three to four weeks to get the TC back?

After that I figure why spend $700 for a TC when there are much more reasonably priced units out there.

Good Luck,

Al