I'd like to add something to my vette when I get it back out next spring, and I'm deciding between these two.

I know TransGo makes a good shift kit that I can probably get for around $300 (installed) and it won't hurt my transmission.

But a friend of mine has told me to skip the shift kit and get a new converter. I really don't know much about converters though..... but I have read that they can ruin your tanny.

What exactly does a converter do? Can one be safely added w/out decreasing tranny life? Also what kind of performence gains will I get (low end, top end or what?)

Thanks

 

If your tranny is like mine it has a slow shift that's very comfortable on the street but sucks at the strip. A TransGo kit would eliminate that problem and improve the times a little.

A Torque Converter (TC) is the fluid coupler between the drive shaft and the auto tranny input shaft. It slips at idle and less and less with rpm increase, up to the "stall rpm" of the TC. Your stock TC may have a stall of around 1,500-2,000rpm. At the stall point and beyond there is no longer much slippage (usually around 4% or so). If you nail the throttle off idle the tach will jump immediately to the stall point and then climb as the car rolls forward and the engine revs up.

A hi-stall TC, say 2,600-2,800rpm simply allows your motor to jump instantly (higher) into the power band instead of having to drag the car forward to get there. So you have more HP & torque at launch. This is a good thing at the strip with a set of DRs out back but on street tires you realy have to drive it off the line (or the traffic light). But indeed a TC & DRs is a quick way to bring down your 60' time and your ET. And it is a very streetable mod that you won't even notice on the highway.

It will put more stress on the drive train due to the increased launch torque (when you get on it) but not as much as dumping the clutch at 3-4k RPM.




[Modified by 65Z01, 5:11 PM 12/17/2001]

 

higher in the power band you say..... that actually sounds like fun.

How much am I looking at to get a NICE TC and to have it installed?

 

For your set-up both are a must.

 

Since I had the TC done when the new tranny went into my IROC Level 10 only charged me the $300 for the TC since the tranny and stock TC had to come out anyway. But that was 3-4yrs ago.

I've read here that a good TC can run $500-$700 plus labor to drop the tranny enough to swap it in. Maybe some with recent experience will jump in with current numbers.

 

Whats his setup and year car?

 

Good question, I foreget there other A4s besides 700R/4.:crazy:

 

it's a '92 w/ a tranny rebuild 15,000 miles ago

 

Mods? Dynochart showing powerband?

 

92...meaning L98? If so, if you have not done many mods ( like intake replacement and cam/exhaust work ) you will want to stay fairly low in stall speed RPM, since your motor has a limited powerband. I would say 2300-2500 RPM MAX stall speed will probably give you teh best times.

Now, if you've done mods and/or have an LT1, then you can get away with a little higher stall speed converter and still show gains ( at the expense of low speed street response and loss of traction from hitting hte gas too hard and boiling the tires when the stop light turns green :D ).

 

Meaning LT1

 

I hope so! :D :seeya

 

id get a Vigilante Converter with either a 2400 or 2600 stall speed, and i think theyll change the speed for you if you dont like it. This is what i'm looking at.
Were you planning on doing any mods in the future?

 

I've heard nothing BUT good things about Vigilantes. Just thought I'd share ;)