Torque Converter Question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 348
Likes: 12
From: Ocala, Florida
Torque Converter Question
I am putting a TH350 in my 1979 Corvette, Trans from TCI, The engine is a 400hp 383 stroker, 336 rear. What stall speed converter should I get to get good street performance. Thanks JAY
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,993
Likes: 1,136
From: League City Tx
BS....
You can get a properly matched converter that will perform well and drive well on the street...
Depending on the RPM range of the engine, I would likely get something that would "flash" to around 3500 rpms....maybe even 3800 if you're gonna be running it on sticky tires and hitting the strip. This will likely be a 10" converter and will "foot brake" stall at around 2500....
If you get it from a decent converter builder, it will drive almost like a stocker until you put your foot in it....
Check out a few of these brands ($400-500):
PTC, Ultimate race converters, EDGE, Hughes
Some higher end brands ($600+) are :
ATI, Coan, Continental, Pro torque, Neil Chance...
I bet you would be fine with an EDGE or PTC for what you are likely doing with it..... Just stay away from off the shelf junk like TCI/B&M....
You can get a properly matched converter that will perform well and drive well on the street...
Depending on the RPM range of the engine, I would likely get something that would "flash" to around 3500 rpms....maybe even 3800 if you're gonna be running it on sticky tires and hitting the strip. This will likely be a 10" converter and will "foot brake" stall at around 2500....
If you get it from a decent converter builder, it will drive almost like a stocker until you put your foot in it....
Check out a few of these brands ($400-500):
PTC, Ultimate race converters, EDGE, Hughes
Some higher end brands ($600+) are :
ATI, Coan, Continental, Pro torque, Neil Chance...
I bet you would be fine with an EDGE or PTC for what you are likely doing with it..... Just stay away from off the shelf junk like TCI/B&M....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 895
Likes: 4
From: whitman massachusetts
Converter
I bought a Huges converter for my stroked small block. Called Hughes and gave them the engine specs and dyno results of where engine made power. They took info and provided me with the converter they felt was best application for street driving. Figured if they are building them, they would know best, which application to use.
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Racer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 394
Likes: 1
From: Everywhere US
Your TC should be matched with your cam !!! Between you cam specs and a good TC builder, you should come up with the correct TC.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
http://www.jegs.com/s/tech-articles/...rque+Converter
http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forum...c-article.html
http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles...ter/index.html
http://www.hardtail.com/techtips/sel...converter.html
Read up. Get smart. Make an informed choice. Ever notice that when you ask for advice on a forum like this, sometimes you get conflicting answers? At the very least, use your new knowledge to sift thru the BS.
This forum is great for Corvette specific questions, but for questions like yours, you're probably better off doing a google search on the subject. Not saying it's a bad question, it's just very general in nature. Also not saying you shouldn't ask questions like this, just saying you probably won't get what you really need, because nobody wants to spend 3 hours writing a post that will tell you everything you need to know. And, having a good, basic level of knowledge on a subject will make it much easier to understand the answers that you will get on a forum like this.
My setup is different than yours, but I am in the same boat as you are, in that I am trying to decide what TC to get for my planned engine build. It's a pretty murky subject, isn't it? In the end, you pay your money, and you make your choice, and you're the one who has to live with it, so do your homework, and make a good choice. Good luck!!
Scott
http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forum...c-article.html
http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles...ter/index.html
http://www.hardtail.com/techtips/sel...converter.html
Read up. Get smart. Make an informed choice. Ever notice that when you ask for advice on a forum like this, sometimes you get conflicting answers? At the very least, use your new knowledge to sift thru the BS.
This forum is great for Corvette specific questions, but for questions like yours, you're probably better off doing a google search on the subject. Not saying it's a bad question, it's just very general in nature. Also not saying you shouldn't ask questions like this, just saying you probably won't get what you really need, because nobody wants to spend 3 hours writing a post that will tell you everything you need to know. And, having a good, basic level of knowledge on a subject will make it much easier to understand the answers that you will get on a forum like this.
My setup is different than yours, but I am in the same boat as you are, in that I am trying to decide what TC to get for my planned engine build. It's a pretty murky subject, isn't it? In the end, you pay your money, and you make your choice, and you're the one who has to live with it, so do your homework, and make a good choice. Good luck!!
Scott
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 957
Likes: 6
From: Burlington wisconsin
call Hughes as they were knowledgable & helpful. have the folllowing info ready for them,
Cam duration
tire height
aprox weight of vehicle
crank horse power
rear end gear ratio
trans type
If you ever had the engine on a dyno give them the rpm that your engine made it's top/peak torque.
How you intend too drive the vehicle. IE: normal street with some spirited occasions, or strip or race.
They'll spec you out one as they did my 383 and I couldnt be happier.
Cam duration
tire height
aprox weight of vehicle
crank horse power
rear end gear ratio
trans type
If you ever had the engine on a dyno give them the rpm that your engine made it's top/peak torque.
How you intend too drive the vehicle. IE: normal street with some spirited occasions, or strip or race.
They'll spec you out one as they did my 383 and I couldnt be happier.
Last edited by cherrybombc3; Jan 3, 2012 at 08:49 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 691
Likes: 25
From: Boynton Beach Florida
I replaced my TH350 with a TCI Street Fighter (TH350) and used the TCI Breakaway converter which stalls around 2400. It has worked great for over a year now and is a 10" converter something they changed around the time I installed it since it was advertised as an 11"
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Call the techs at any (or all) of the reputable converter companies and let the ask for info on your engine/car and make a recommendation. Compare results from those you call and buy from the one who seems best to you. Any other method is a "crap shoot".
