C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Torque converter selection

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Old Apr 12, 2019 | 04:47 PM
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Default Torque converter selection

Does anyone know what should be considered in making the section on the right torque converter? I spoke to 4 companies now and their stall recommendations are all different.

Engine builder - says 2800-3200 stall would be good
Torque converter supplier #1 - recommended 3200 stall
Torque converter supplier #2 - recommended 2300-2500 stall
Torque converter supplier #3 - recommended 2800-3000 stall

Car is a 1991 with a 700R4
specs are:
396 ci stroker
10.5:1 compression
com cam hydraulic roller cam - duration 242/248 lift 585/580
aft heads 195cc ported eliminator 75cc double valve springs, hardened retainers and locks, 1.6 comp cams rocker arms, 2.05" stainless intake valves, 1.6" exhaust valves
holley sniper efi system
3" exhaust
3:73 gears
Engine made 526hp 495tq on the engine dyno

I just want to get the right one for my application and not do this 2 times. Car is 99% street driven (weekend cruiser) and might make an appearance at the drag strip 1 or 2 times per year at most.

Any info would be a huge help!


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Old Apr 12, 2019 | 05:20 PM
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Originally Posted by littleredcorvette88
Does anyone know what should be considered in making the section on the right torque converter? I spoke to 4 companies now and their stall recommendations are all different.

Engine builder - says 2800-3200 stall would be good
Torque converter supplier #1 - recommended 3200 stall
Torque converter supplier #2 - recommended 2300-2500 stall
Torque converter supplier #3 - recommended 2800-3000 stall

Car is a 1991 with a 700R4
specs are:
396 ci stroker
10.5:1 compression
com cam hydraulic roller cam - duration 242/248 lift 585/580
aft heads 195cc ported eliminator 75cc double valve springs, hardened retainers and locks, 1.6 comp cams rocker arms, 2.05" stainless intake valves, 1.6" exhaust valves
holley sniper efi system
3" exhaust
3:73 gears
Engine made 526hp 495tq on the engine dyno

I just want to get the right one for my application and not do this 2 times. Car is 99% street driven (weekend cruiser) and might make an appearance at the drag strip 1 or 2 times per year at most.

Any info would be a huge help!
I would recommend Yank or a Vigilanti, pricey but you want quality with a TC
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Old Apr 12, 2019 | 06:34 PM
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I have a 3200 Edge converter in my car with a 4L80E that I love. 3200 is a little high for the street, need a good cooler, but it's really ******* fun. Had a 383 with a Holley stealth ram, 280 XFI cam
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Old Apr 12, 2019 | 07:13 PM
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Had a 2,000rpm TC with a shift kit in my 1st 35th Anni behind a 300chp L98 and it was great off the line and on street.

If your motor doesn't have the low end torque of the L98 then a higher stall TC would be in order, IMO.
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Old Apr 13, 2019 | 12:22 PM
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I would rule out the 2300-2500 for something higher. I have a 2400 with 3.07 gear and 218/224 cam, its just about right.
By the way, how are you handling the throttle valve duties for that 700r4? That holley sniper includes the manifold and 4-barrel throttle body, right? I'm using a constant pressure valve body that i hope will keep from burning up due to low pressure shifts.
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Old Apr 13, 2019 | 02:40 PM
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Originally Posted by littleredcorvette88
Does anyone know what should be considered in making the section on the right torque converter? I spoke to 4 companies now and their stall recommendations are all different.

Engine builder - says 2800-3200 stall would be good
Torque converter supplier #1 - recommended 3200 stall
Torque converter supplier #2 - recommended 2300-2500 stall
Torque converter supplier #3 - recommended 2800-3000 stall

Car is a 1991 with a 700R4
specs are:
396 ci stroker
10.5:1 compression
com cam hydraulic roller cam - duration 242/248 lift 585/580
aft heads 195cc ported eliminator 75cc double valve springs, hardened retainers and locks, 1.6 comp cams rocker arms, 2.05" stainless intake valves, 1.6" exhaust valves
holley sniper efi system
3" exhaust
3:73 gears
Engine made 526hp 495tq on the engine dyno

I just want to get the right one for my application and not do this 2 times. Car is 99% street driven (weekend cruiser) and might make an appearance at the drag strip 1 or 2 times per year at most.

Any info would be a huge help!
IF your trans is freshly rebuilt, I would get a Vigilante since they will help you out and also offer a free "Re-Stall" if you don't like it. IF it has some miles, I'd simply wait till it died before replacing it. When the trans goes, I don't want that crap in the TC which will be harder to get out totally without cutting it apart.
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Old Apr 13, 2019 | 09:12 PM
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Yeah I had this problem when I looked around to have my 700r4 built to handle my 398. Some guys wanted me to have a 3500 stall and said it would be awesome, but didn't understand that I'd actually drive the thing on the street a lot. If I were drag racing it very often and only made power on the high end like the LT1 engines, yes I'd have a higher stall speed.

My opinion, below 2000 and it'll suck. Above 2800 on the street, and it'll suck because the transmission will feel like its slipping (which it is) and it just won't go until you hit the stall speed. If you only made power at high rpm, then you go higher. With a 396, you make torque everywhere.

I went with 2600-2800 first, in a Vigilante, and hated it. I went down to 2200-2400 and thats way better. PI will re-stall the Vigilante once for you.
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Old Apr 16, 2019 | 06:48 PM
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Ok so seems like vigilante is the way to go which is what my old set up was and I still have it. It’s a 3000 stall that the previous owner had on a switch for the track. With that being said I assume it would still auto lock at 3000rpms whether the switch was on or off?

Does anyone know if vigilante rebuilds their old converters? I have a feeling either way that one is smoked so it would need a rebuild/ stall change. I would also like to eliminate the switch.


Also attached is a dyno sheet from the build not sure if that helps with rpm selection?


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Old Apr 16, 2019 | 07:10 PM
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Give them a call
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Old Apr 16, 2019 | 07:33 PM
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Originally Posted by littleredcorvette88
Ok so seems like vigilante is the way to go which is what my old set up was and I still have it. It’s a 3000 stall that the previous owner had on a switch for the track. With that being said I assume it would still auto lock at 3000rpms whether the switch was on or off?

Does anyone know if vigilante rebuilds their old converters? I have a feeling either way that one is smoked so it would need a rebuild/ stall change. I would also like to eliminate the switch.


Also attached is a dyno sheet from the build not sure if that helps with rpm selection?

When you say switch are you talking about lockup? Must have been a triple disk lockup if you're locking it on the track. Well. Hopefully it was lol
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Old Apr 16, 2019 | 08:05 PM
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I've been running a couple of Vigilantes for almost the past two decades. They are bulletproof. I have had them freshened up a couple of times just for doodles. They hold up to thousands of full throttle runs locking up in either second or third gear. I am running the 5 disk converters which are stout enough to lock up diesel trucks. Never had a failure or slippage.
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Old Apr 20, 2019 | 02:02 AM
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I have a 2800 Protorque which is awesome and wont break the bank $350 shipped. any higher stall will be much higher priced. my previous LT1 Camaro I had a Protorque 3800 billet converter $750 shipped. you can contact Joe Rivera at Protorque. to answer your question, they have a form you fill out which needs the following info. car weight, cam, 1st gear ratio in transmission, rear gears. HP etc. Joe is extremely helpful. Camaro went 1.5 60' Vette 1.7 customer service is excellent. I bought my camaro torque converter through a trans shop and had some questions while at the track and the shop and Joe had me on a 3 way call on the weekend to answer my questions.
https://protorque.com/






Last edited by BLKMAMBA; Apr 20, 2019 at 02:05 AM.
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