Anyone here running a non lock-up high quality converter that doesn't have OD? I cruise at around 2400 rpm (60) and I was wondering how a vigilante with a 2800 stall would act on the street.

I do not want to swap my ring and pinion so my cruise RPM is fixed. I would like to get better acceleration though! Wouldn't everyone? I currently have a B&M 2400 TorkMaster converter. It'll brakestall to 2000 rpm. I want to leave the line with it stalled closer to 3K though. I'd also like to take advantage of a higher STR, but not if it's going to kill my milage because of increased converter slippage.

Yeah... Yeah... this isn't a camaro, it's a truck. No where else on the net seems to be so authoritative on as many topics though. Thanks forum users.

GM claims on an engine dyno, torqe peaks 380 ft/lbs @ 3800.

Ben T.

 

I'm really not sure what you are asking about. I have a TH350 with a PT 4200 yank non lock up stall. It is perfectly drivable on the street. Aty least for me it is. At 60mph I crusie at a tad over 3k with 4.10's in the back. I'm sure you will pick up some stall speed going to the 2800. If you want to brake stall at 3k I would call the manufactures and tell them what your set up is. My 4200 will only brake stall to 2700 before it roasts the tires. Good luck.

Joe

 

In a nutshell, what I'm asking is,

If I go with a high quality converter, somethign like Vigilante or Yank, will my current ~13 mpg plunge?

I cruise (my 2200-2400 El Cheapo B&M converter) at 2400 RPM (60mph) and I get minimal slippage and make somewhere around 13 miles to the gallon.

Will going with a 2800 or 3000 stall converter necessarily kill my milage because I don't cruise at such a high rpm being I don't have a TCC to lock i up?

That's the question. I mean, yeah... If I could do a 3200 Vigilante I'd be all over that but not if my milage dropped from 11/13 to say... 8/10. Any personal experiences? BTW, I do very little "in town" driving.

Perhaps this could better be put as; how close does cruise RPM need to be to stall speed to still make decent milage on a mild small block?

Ben T.

 

Ahha! I would go with a 2800 lock up stall if you want the best gas mileage (over a Non lock up verter) and a little more umph off the line. It's hard to say what mileage you will get after switching from your B&M to a yank or vigi. I don't know what kind of efficiency B&M has but I know the yank and vigi's have about a 97-99%. SO you might get better mileage from a Vigilante 2800 than from your B&M 2400 because it is much more efficient. HTH

Joe

 

Smoke,

Your comment of efficiency was the sort of thing I was looking for. I'll try and get somewhere on that one. Now some searching is in order!

You mentioned lock-up? It's a Th400, and it has no lock-up feature. If that was the case, I'd do the seven-pump 3200 stall converter.

Thanks for the help!

Ben T.