Alright guys, Im putting ym eigine back together and now that its been to the machine shop its going to be a totally different animal than when I pulled it out of the car. My hp/tq goal is between 400-425hp on motor. I already got a B&M Holeshot 3000rpm converter. Im running a th350 trans so its a non-lockup converter. Is this a good choice for what stall speed to run? A guy I know that wants to make his car faster is installing a 4000+ stall converter to support his cam install that promises 425+hp on stock heads.

To recap..400hp - 3000rpm converter - 3.73 gears = good combo?

 

Converter choice is going to be based off of things like vehicle weight, application, heads/cam, gearing, etc...

Hp might be on that list - but not near the top.

I suggest contacting a converter manufacturer and speaking with a few of them to get some information. Compare each of their ideas for what you need - then decide.

Read rkraus's post on torque converters.

Precision Industries
Fuddle
Yank
Midwest
Edge

In no order - those are companies that i'd start with.

 

Without a doubt, I'd suggest ProTorque.

http://www.protorque.com/index2.htm

I still can't understand why you swapped to a transmnission that's not any stronger than the one you pulled out, though.

I would also suggest not using the B&M. I've seen many cases of catasrophic failure with B&M converters.

Frank
CPT

 

So Frank - a TH350 can't take any more abuse than a 4L60E can?

 

Not a 4L60E that's built properly. We had worked the weakest piint in the 4L60E to the outut shaft. Now the 4L65E hardened output shaft is available, so it's even eliminated that weak link.
A 400 is most certainly stronger, but entirely unneccassary unless you're running in the 9's.

The 700/4L60E has received a very undue bad wrap because of the shortage of GOOD builders qualified to get them right. Anyone can throw a TH350 together and make it work. That's why most people start out with them. Many people take their 4L60E to a "generic" transmission builder. Sure, he can build it back to stock specs, but it requires more than that. A racing 4L60e isn't just a stock build with a shift kit.

Frank
CPT

 

Thats a lesson I wish the local transmission shop guys could learn. I remember they asked if the car had a 'chip' and how big the cam was, but then after it broke a second time their response was "we diddnt know it had more power than a stock car, so we did a stock rebuild". I went with a TCI Street Figher th350 because I basiclly got a brand new one for $500, w/ an aluminum f-body driveshaft. Sounded alot nicer than the $1200 that a shop quoted me for a 'quality' 4L60. If I hadnt dumped that kinda of cash into the transmission twice before due to failure i might have considered it.