Vigilante Converter Ordered!!
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 17,103
Likes: 39
From: stop the fun suckers
Vigilante Converter Ordered!!
Woo-Hoo just got off the phone and a 2600-2800 stall converter is in the pipeline to be built & shipped.. I'm guessing it'll arrive end of next week!!
What was the main difference you noticed when you had yours installed?
BTW: the old coverter had written on it
"H.S. CONVERTER - 4.3 - V6 ONLY"
In yellow marker... dam rebuild shops!!
What was the main difference you noticed when you had yours installed?
BTW: the old coverter had written on it
"H.S. CONVERTER - 4.3 - V6 ONLY"
In yellow marker... dam rebuild shops!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 7
From: Metairie Louisiana
First thing I noticed was loss of traction off the line. Second was increase in trans temps. I think I need dr's for the track to launch it better. Also a lot more practice. Firestone WO are great street tires but horrible at the 1/4. Trans temp issue was solved by installing a B&M Supercooler. Normal driving and feel was completely unaffected. I'm still optimistic that once all issues are solved it will help a lot.
Good Luck
Good Luck
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,439
Likes: 4
From: Kewaskum Wisconsin
When I changed from the stock GM converter to a 2600 vigilante, my ¼-mile times went from;
12.1x @ 112 (1.69 sixty foot)
To
11.8x @ 117mph (1.56 sixty foot)
The street manners were better than stock. Definitely worth it in my opinion.
12.1x @ 112 (1.69 sixty foot)
To
11.8x @ 117mph (1.56 sixty foot)
The street manners were better than stock. Definitely worth it in my opinion.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by 383_BluByU
BTW: the old coverter had written on it
"H.S. CONVERTER - 4.3 - V6 ONLY"
In yellow marker... dam rebuild shops!!
"H.S. CONVERTER - 4.3 - V6 ONLY"
In yellow marker... dam rebuild shops!!
I hope that new converter is as much looser as you are expecting it to be.
RACE ON!!!
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,439
Likes: 4
From: Kewaskum Wisconsin
Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
I hope that new converter is as much looser as you are expecting it to be.
RACE ON!!!
383_BluByU,
I see in your signature that you have a 383 LT1. You will be happier and faster with a ~3000 stall. What are you running for an intake? Stock LT1, Miniram?.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
I noticed it wound up quicker and had a better feel right off the bat! Like it was supposed to be that way from the factory! Harder launch from a light and felt lighter in the pedal. 2200 stall 1990 Vette 3.07 rear auto 4 spd.
Thanks,Matt
Thanks,Matt
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 17,103
Likes: 39
From: stop the fun suckers
Hole-Shot - The 383 LT1 is mild.. I built it that way because it had a stock tranny and I didn't want to blow it.. :o I Called the guys at precision industies and (Jake I think was the guys name) - We went over my car specs (gearing, weight, tire size, engine specs, dyno information, typical usage, exhaust..etc..etc..) and they recommended the 2600-2800..The good news is they will change the stall over the next two years if i feel I need to bump it up a tad..
CFI-EFI - yea.. the place that did the tranny before was a butcher.. The case has maekings from 1997 AND 1993 (meaning this is the third rebuild on it) I have a feeling once we get into it we might need a new case..
rickreeves1 - Rick, with the heading issue.. how much higher than stock did the avg. temnp go? I'm a little concerened about putting a cooler infront of the radiator since the engine runs a tad warm with the stroker motor in place already.. any guys with stroker LT1s that have any advice?
CFI-EFI - yea.. the place that did the tranny before was a butcher.. The case has maekings from 1997 AND 1993 (meaning this is the third rebuild on it) I have a feeling once we get into it we might need a new case..
rickreeves1 - Rick, with the heading issue.. how much higher than stock did the avg. temnp go? I'm a little concerened about putting a cooler infront of the radiator since the engine runs a tad warm with the stroker motor in place already.. any guys with stroker LT1s that have any advice?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 7
From: Metairie Louisiana
I'm not sure on average. My radiator trans coolant passage eventually became blocked and it would overheat so bad I would have to shut down(275 deg). With the B&M I have, the trans runs cooler than stock. I rarely get above 189 deg now. It is mounted in front of the AC condensor. Someone else on the forum mounted it in the rear where the spare usually goes. I think next I'll be adding a dewitt radiator and using that in addition to the B&M. I have the B&M supercooler #70266. I paid $60 from summit for the B&M, well worth it if it saves me rebuilding the transmission sooner. I just had it rebuilt last summer and added a shift kit. Every twenty degrees cooler doubles the life of the transmission is what i remember reading.
Last edited by rickneworleansla; Jul 25, 2006 at 09:55 PM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 6,341
Likes: 1
From: Shelton CT
I'm going to put on a trans cooler also for my '92 with the 2600rpm converter soon. Do the LT1s come with a tranny cooler like the older Z51's did? If not how do you plumb into the tranny oil lines to it?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 32,782
Likes: 11
From: Former NCM Drag Racing coordinator, National director Corvette Challenge Spring Hill, Tennessee: Whiting, New Jersey
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
It took me 4 tries to get a Vigilante Converter I liked in my car. They work super. Good luck with yours.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 17,103
Likes: 39
From: stop the fun suckers
what was wrong with the fiorst three?!?!? 
I'm doin' my own work so the though of R&R'n the tranny 4 times is bad.. m'kay... 
What stall speed did youfinally find to your satisfaction and what are the specs on your car?
I'm doin' my own work so the though of R&R'n the tranny 4 times is bad.. m'kay... What stall speed did youfinally find to your satisfaction and what are the specs on your car?
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,870
Likes: 25
From: Long Island, NY
Originally Posted by 383_BluByU
what was wrong with the fiorst three?!?!? I'm doin' my own work so the though of R&R'n the tranny 4 times is bad.. m'kay...
What stall speed did youfinally find to your satisfaction and what are the specs on your car?
I'm doin' my own work so the though of R&R'n the tranny 4 times is bad.. m'kay... What stall speed did youfinally find to your satisfaction and what are the specs on your car?
Vic
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,653
Likes: 428
From: Melbourne Florida
Cruise-In IV Veteran
I have a Vigilante 3200 stall in mine...I put in a tranny cooler at the same time and mounted it to the front left of the condenser...I did end up running a tiny bit hotter so I swtched to one gallon of anti freeze, two bottles of water wetter and the rest distilled water...I also put in a 160 T-Stat...
I now run coolant temps of 180-184* on the highway and 196 in traffic with the fans on without the A/C on...my fans had been previously set to come on at 198 and go off at 192*...I don't know what my tranny temps are since I don't have a gauge but they have to be cooler than before...
BTW, the 3200 stall has very good street manners and hits real good at the drag strip with my stock motor...
I now run coolant temps of 180-184* on the highway and 196 in traffic with the fans on without the A/C on...my fans had been previously set to come on at 198 and go off at 192*...I don't know what my tranny temps are since I don't have a gauge but they have to be cooler than before...
BTW, the 3200 stall has very good street manners and hits real good at the drag strip with my stock motor...
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by Fuzzy Dice
BTW, the 3200 stall has very good street manners and hits real good at the drag strip with my stock motor...
