Torque Converter suggestions?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,198
Likes: 2
From: Eastern Connecticut
Torque Converter suggestions?
This winter I am going to rebuild the motor and TH400 tranny. I know there are better torque conveters out there than the $100 rebuilt that is in there now. I heard you can get converters that stall at around 2400 under full throttle, but are not at all sloppy at part throttle or cruising on the highway. Any experiences out there? I am going for a mild upgrade with 212/218@.050 crane cam - 350 hp, 400 lbs ft, 3.08 gears, daily driver with highway miles.
Continental is one of the brands I have heard about. Also Hughes and Vigilante. What about the B&M converters?
Joe
Continental is one of the brands I have heard about. Also Hughes and Vigilante. What about the B&M converters?
Joe
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,173
Likes: 3,982
From: Connecticut, USA
Hey Joe,
Sounds like we're doing the same thing. I already finished the TH400 rebuild,and the differential using new 308's. I will start the engine this Winter. I'm using the original 350-200 engine out of my 72. Going to use Comp 260H cam WP S/R Torquers heads(67cc) headers,Performer intake,stock distributor.
I haven't choosen a Converter yet,but I'm thinking around a 2000 stall is all I need. B&M,TCI, or something from the tranny supplier.
Let me know what you choose.
Gary
Sounds like we're doing the same thing. I already finished the TH400 rebuild,and the differential using new 308's. I will start the engine this Winter. I'm using the original 350-200 engine out of my 72. Going to use Comp 260H cam WP S/R Torquers heads(67cc) headers,Performer intake,stock distributor.
I haven't choosen a Converter yet,but I'm thinking around a 2000 stall is all I need. B&M,TCI, or something from the tranny supplier.
Let me know what you choose.
Gary
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,951
Likes: 1
From: Shore NJ
Big differance in converter quality, after doing some research and looking at some converters and their construction I went with the TCI "breakaway" model for my THD400 trans. It's about 2,000 stall, with 3.55 gearing it's working good.... 
Last edited by 73jst4fun; Sep 11, 2004 at 06:02 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,025
Likes: 1
From: Billings MT
My 4000rpm stall converter from Torco drives just fine around town, and cruising down the highway at 2800rpm. No excessive heat (unless your beating on it), and part throttle and slow speed driving is not an issue...at all.
www.torcoconverters.com is the site.
www.torcoconverters.com is the site.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,807
Likes: 0
From: Hoosier
Cruise-In III Veteran
Originally Posted by VETDRMS
My 4000rpm stall converter from Torco drives just fine around town, and cruising down the highway at 2800rpm. No excessive heat (unless your beating on it), and part throttle and slow speed driving is not an issue...at all.
www.torcoconverters.com is the site.
www.torcoconverters.com is the site.
Wow, I thought a 2200 was too sloppy on the street for me.Anyway, check out ckpeformance.com as a comparison in your search.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,198
Likes: 2
From: Eastern Connecticut
Originally Posted by VETDRMS
My 4000rpm stall converter from Torco drives just fine around town, and cruising down the highway at 2800rpm. No excessive heat (unless your beating on it), and part throttle and slow speed driving is not an issue...at all.
www.torcoconverters.com is the site.
www.torcoconverters.com is the site.
Thanks for the help, but the website redirects to http://avalon.camalott.com/ so I can't get there. Any idea for pricing? Stall speeds?
Originally Posted by AlwaysWave
Wow, I thought a 2200 was too sloppy on the street for me.
Anyway, check out ckpeformance.com as a comparison in your search.:
Anyway, check out ckpeformance.com as a comparison in your search.:
Originally Posted by 73jst4fun
Big differance in converter quality, after doing some research and looking at some converters and their construction I went with the TCI "breakaway" model for my THD400 trans. It's about 2,000 stall, with 3.55 gearing it's working good.... .:
Thanks to all
Joe
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,807
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From: Hoosier
Cruise-In III Veteran
Originally Posted by joe73vette
Thanks for the help, but the website redirects to http://avalon.camalott.com/ so I can't get there. Any idea for pricing? Stall speeds?
That looks promising, but I couldn't find descriptions of the different converters, just a price list. What did you get, because if you think it was too sloppy, I am probably not going to get that one.
Do you think it is sloppy around town? I don't want to kill the low end punch at low speeds, that's half the fun with a torquey motor.
Thanks to all
Joe
That looks promising, but I couldn't find descriptions of the different converters, just a price list. What did you get, because if you think it was too sloppy, I am probably not going to get that one.
Do you think it is sloppy around town? I don't want to kill the low end punch at low speeds, that's half the fun with a torquey motor.
Thanks to all
Joe
http://ckperformance.com/gm_200R4_convert.html
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,176
Likes: 88
From: State of Confusion
I last had my Z28 on the street (for all-of 170+ miles...) in '98, and I got a converter for the THM400 from ATI.
It is an 8" converter, built for the street, and in normal driving, you almost don't know that it is a race-quality piece...
but once you bring the motor 'up-against' it, it slips like my 'race-only' Transmission-Specialties sprag-less jobbie.
Better-still, the trans-fluid doesn't get hot at-all in normal driving, and at 50 MPH, it feels 'tight'.
The car runs 12-eighties with either converter:
it is a bit more consistent/predictable with the TS, but MPHs higher with the ATI (as high as 109 vs. 105).
Both pieces are bullet-proof, and cost approx $600+ each.
It is an 8" converter, built for the street, and in normal driving, you almost don't know that it is a race-quality piece...
but once you bring the motor 'up-against' it, it slips like my 'race-only' Transmission-Specialties sprag-less jobbie.
Better-still, the trans-fluid doesn't get hot at-all in normal driving, and at 50 MPH, it feels 'tight'.
The car runs 12-eighties with either converter:
it is a bit more consistent/predictable with the TS, but MPHs higher with the ATI (as high as 109 vs. 105).
Both pieces are bullet-proof, and cost approx $600+ each.
