Per TCI's website, this is the highest recommended TC for a stock cam and gives 400-500 RPM over stock. My '99 SS is all stock beyond a cat back exhaust, CAI and, in the future, a reprogram. The reason I'm tempted is because I remember putting a mild TC in my old '79 Z28 and it made a Huge difference. However, this is not a cheap mod so I'd like to know it will work before doing it. Thanks in advance.

 

It'll work,but you'll be dissappointed.Even a step up to the 'breakaway' for a +1000 rpm in stall speed is generally not considered.Most use the 'streetfighter' for all around use and get good street manners while still being able to get up into the powerband quickly for race use.Do a 'search' in the drivetrain forum for TCI,or 'saturday night special',or 'breakaway',or 'streetfighter' and see what the results are.

 

Thanks. I did more research and looks like the Vigilante 2800 has gotten some pretty big kudos from the stock LS1 crowd and generally is believed to be of very good quality. Expensive but perhaps worth it. The TCI SSF3500 is also popular. Seems these cars can handle a higher TQC than what you would think on first looking at it. A cooler is recommended, as is a shift kit by many.

BTW, do you know what the stock gear ratio in a '99 SS with an A4 is? It's either 2.73 or 3.23 I think.

 

Option code GU5 is 3.23:1.Check your RPO sticker on drivers door jam(if the sticker is still there).

 

Most people I've encountered who use a TCI converter in a 700/4L60E are thoroughly disappointed with their performance. TCI converters work great in older 350's and 400's, but for some reason they fall way short of other manufactuerers for O/D transmissions.

Check out http://www.protorque.com/index2.htm. I've never had a ProTorque come back with any kind of problem. I've also never had a customer complaint about one.

Frank

 

Thanks Frank. What stall speed do you recommend for my application, assuming that driveability is my primary concern? The car will be all stock except for a cat back, CAI and a reprogram. I just want more kick, I don't really want a "slippy" torque converter or anything that hurts throttle response at lower speeds too badly. The 10.5" 2800-3200 maybe? Also, who makes a good shift kit for the 4L60E? I appreciate it.

 

Yes, the 10.5" will work great in your combination. It's also a very nice "streetable" converter.

To be honest, nobody makes a good shift kit for a 4L60E. When we build our racing 4L60E's, we source our parts from several different manufactuerers to get the desired results. We udse many parts from Sonnax Ind., and all of our race transmissions get billet Fairbanks 2ND servos.
To really make a 4L60E able to withstand the abuse that drag racing puts on them, it takes more than a "shift kit", anyway. There are many internal modifications that need to be performed.

Frank

 

I agree with Frank here on that TCI does ok with TH350/400's but not 700R4's & 4L60E's. I will not warranty one of my units behind TCI or B&M torque converters.

 

Yes, it seems from my research that Vigilante and Yank units have the best reputation. They're more costly but this is such an important part and a PIA job that I'd be more inclined to spend an extra 300 or 400 bucks for a quality product.

 

Ok, update. After much research, I've narrowed it down to the following three possible TCs (and of course I'll use a trans cooler and an ECM reprogram to firm up the shifts and take advantage of the new TC):

1. Yank Stealth Thruster 2800 (2800 Stall, 2.10 STR)

2. Yank Stealth Thruster 3000 (3200 Stall, 2.25 STR)

3. Vigilante 2800-3000 Stall (STR NA)

A lot of choices out there! But these three seem like they would work best with my basically stock application, and these two brands have the best reputation in the LS1 crowd. I'm picking up that the higher the STR, the generally better it will be for the street, which makes #2 seem superficially like the best pick. What do you guys think?