I put a TH400 in this year and am having converter problems. The converter I bought is from Coan. The tranny builder (Carl Rossler) recommended Coan. We had ~45min on the phone, faxed them dyno sheets, etc. I asked them to build me a 3,500 stall converter. They indicated "no problem" and said they would send on of their "10 inch maximum performance steel stator" converters. They advertise this converter as being used in monster trucks, for "nitrous equipped or blown mountain motors". The converter was far too loose. It would stall against the brake at 5,200rpm. On the dyno, we could "drive through". The car would just sit at ~5,000rpm, hardly accelerating the drums at all.

So, out came the converter and it went back to Coan. It is coming back this week. But I am doubtful it will work right. Coan said "we will tighten it up as much as we can, but don't think it will stall at 3,500. A 10 " converter may not be able to hold at 3,500". So why don't you send me an 11" or a 12", I asked. Answer "well, there is no steel stator available larger than 10", and you need a steel stator to absorb the hp". Thanks a lot! Maybe they could have told me that before I sent them $1,100.

So, maybe it's too early. But I am anticipating that what they will send me will not work and I will be looking for something that will. My question is therefore who else has a hi-po setup (~850hp) and a converter that works properly?

Any input appreciated.

Rich Krause

 

Rich,

I find it hard to believe they can't get it tighter. We have a 10" COnverter that is tight enough to stall on the brake to 4600, however this is behind 1280hp >1000ft lb torque 632" BB. This is a Continental Converter.

Personally, when I got my converter, I looked at WHO was running similar type combinations as me. And who was doing it EFFECTIVELY at the track. Then which converter are many of them using. Came down to one thing. Chance. I looked at my car being relatively heavy, high hp, small tire, nitrous combo, and wanted someone with experience with such a retarded combo.

Yours is much the same. Chance has alot of experience in the streetcar classes, and as such has seen blown, turbo'd and nitrous applications in heavy cars, on a daily basis.

JM $.02, but I would think Coan should be able to tighten that up for ya. Maybe not to 3500, but close at least. I still think you need more stall then the 3500 anyways.

 

KT: thanks, I hope you are right and it works better. You are running a Continental then or a Neal Chance? I did look into Chance, but theirs made my $1,100 converter look cheap! They wanted ~$1,700. In retrospect, if theirs worked, it would have been a better choice.

What rpm does your 632 inch motor develop peak torque and how high do you rev it? Did the converter work out of the box?

Rich Krause

 

I'm to the point where I've got $1400 wrapped up in the Precision Industries converter I have now. It was too loose and I sent it back. They couldn't believe it was too loose but then finally admitted it could be possible.. It's spragless now too..

It just showed up yesterday afternoon after I swapped in the Torco (540" nitrous converter).. I decided to run on the torco converter anyway and it acted looser than my Precision converter.. Shift light @ 105mph in 3rd..

I'm going to try the Precision again, it better be tight enough this time..

On another note, I had to winch it in the trailer again. I either shelled another opti, or someting broke with the LTCC... The car just died @ about 600' I had a pretty decent run going too.. (1.41 60' on radials)..

 

Neal Chance builds a really nice converter, but yeah spendy. Job Spetter and Wolfe both recommend and use them though. Their customers don't care about prices, only what makes them faster.

I have a 10" A-1 converter and on the transbrake with no boost it's 2800, with 10psi it's about 3700 and with 20psi it's nearly 5000. Of course the car is probably going from 350rwtq to 550rwtq to 800rwtq It set me back about $850 and they made it for me in about a week.

 

Dynamic?
They have some cars running 8's.

Call SDCE. www.sd-concepts.com
They are what he liked when he sold me mine. (98') But, I think he makes his own now???

 

Sounds good. Any contact info?

Rich Krause

 

The Neal Chance converter was the best money ever spent!

Coan converters are good but once you have used a Neil Chance converter you wouldn't give Coan a second look nor any others. I have to agree with the **** poor service not to mention some of the work from Coan, personaly I have had Coan converters in the past and one of there trans and never again!

Talk to Marty at Chance and he will steer ya right. Pricy yes! But after spending $1000.00 plus per converter the $1900.00 doesn't seem to be to bad in order to get the converter you want. If I'm not mistaken I do belieave they(Neil Chance) are one of the few companys to claim there converter has less than 1% slipage.

Also Chance offers a 1 year unconditional warranty on there converters.

Best of luck!
Jim

 

www.raceconverters.com

You'd be surprised how well they work, at the very least CALL THEM UP and talk to them

There are a TON of local guys around here that run their converters and dont have problems and run great ETs

EDIT

i know you might get the "eh....its too cheap to be considered. I'm weary." Just please call them up, talk to the owner and ask him about other applications

 

Thanks for the tip. But how many of them have hi-po setups? That seems to be where the problem is. Getting a converter to work with with a motor that makes a lot of torque at relatively low rpm.

Rich Krause

 

i have a friend with a twin turbo motor:

383 ford windsor motor with twin 60mm turbos that has a power range from about 3500-6500

made 983hp @ 24psi on the engine dyno @ fast times

its in a convertable mustang that weighs about 3800lbs

it went 9.70 @ 142 spinning the tires and skating all the way down the track launching off the transbrake with 10psi

 

That's "hi-po" enough for me!

Rich Krause

 

http://www.a-1automatictransmissions.com/


Their website is kinda weak though. I would have bought a Neal Chance converter though if someone didn't steer me to these guys first.

 

I bought a Neal Chance converter and it worked very well. A nice quality piece and it ran about 600-700 if I remember right. Also you can contact Kenny Ford at PTC and he will build a very nice piece as well.

I think the PTC converter will be a little cheaper but will still be a good quality piece and right on with whatever you tell him you want to do.

 

Another vote for Neal Chance. There are tons of turbo cars, which make unGodly torque, using them.