Torque converter questions
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,876
Likes: 764
From: Sligo PA
Torque converter questions
Hey guys,
I know torque converters have been talked about to death but I have a unique problem. So I have an LS1 swapped 84. Last winter I pulled the LS back out and I put in a 220/224 575 575 cam with 243 heads. At that time I was using a 4l60e trans. I called circle d and they recommended a 3200 rpm stall converter. The car ran great with this setup.
Now I'm wanting to pull it back out this winter. I have a fresh 4L80e and I want to gap my rings for nitrous. So I called a few different places asking about a converter. Every shop I call has a drastically different opinion. Circle D wants me to go 3500-3800 stall billet. Another company told me 2800-3000 would be fine. What do you guys think? I have 3.73 gears in a Dana 44 if that matters.
I cruise a lot with this car. It is a street toy not a drag car.
I know torque converters have been talked about to death but I have a unique problem. So I have an LS1 swapped 84. Last winter I pulled the LS back out and I put in a 220/224 575 575 cam with 243 heads. At that time I was using a 4l60e trans. I called circle d and they recommended a 3200 rpm stall converter. The car ran great with this setup.
Now I'm wanting to pull it back out this winter. I have a fresh 4L80e and I want to gap my rings for nitrous. So I called a few different places asking about a converter. Every shop I call has a drastically different opinion. Circle D wants me to go 3500-3800 stall billet. Another company told me 2800-3000 would be fine. What do you guys think? I have 3.73 gears in a Dana 44 if that matters.
I cruise a lot with this car. It is a street toy not a drag car.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,678
Likes: 229
From: Michigan
What is your peak HP RPM and shift point?
Based off that cam, 3K Seems high but you said it ran great. So, I would stick with it, but it would appear 2800RPM would be more appropriate. It would be nice to see a dyno plot and see what the engine output curves actually look like.
Based off that cam, 3K Seems high but you said it ran great. So, I would stick with it, but it would appear 2800RPM would be more appropriate. It would be nice to see a dyno plot and see what the engine output curves actually look like.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,876
Likes: 764
From: Sligo PA
What is your peak HP RPM and shift point?
Based off that cam, 3K Seems high but you said it ran great. So, I would stick with it, but it would appear 2800RPM would be more appropriate. It would be nice to see a dyno plot and see what the engine output curves actually look like.
Based off that cam, 3K Seems high but you said it ran great. So, I would stick with it, but it would appear 2800RPM would be more appropriate. It would be nice to see a dyno plot and see what the engine output curves actually look like.
Last edited by Phobos84; Aug 4, 2020 at 09:50 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,678
Likes: 229
From: Michigan
With the combo I have I would guess I have 400 hp to the wheels. Being that I have this all controlled by a Holley Terminator X, when I do put nitrous on the car I'm going to do a 150 - 175 progressive shot. So let's say that the absolute max wheel power would be 600 ish. But probably 550. As far as shift point I don't know. Like I said this is a street toy. I do flashlight drags at my local airport once a year.
Based off this, I would like the converter to come on at @2300-2400 RPM per my understanding. Let the engine be freed up to spin up to where it starts making strong torque numbers. Once you luanch or open it up, you will stay above this RPM at each shift.
If you can see a graph or your VE numbers, it might be a better indicator of what your combo actually likes rather than guesses. The graph may be hard to see, but the 100Kpa line is closest to you in that view.
Full disclosure, I prefer manual cars and have dealt with them more. My advice is based off what I have read/been told. Not personal experience. I am just passing that information on.
Last edited by KyleF; Aug 4, 2020 at 11:33 AM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,876
Likes: 764
From: Sligo PA
Thanks guys for the help. I'll look in the Holley software and see what I can pull up. All I know is that the converter I have now is 3000-3200 and seems just fine. But I'm afraid of going with more. I think at 65 mph the car is around there anyway. I think if I went with 3500-3800 stall the trans would heat up on the highway.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,678
Likes: 229
From: Michigan
Thanks guys for the help. I'll look in the Holley software and see what I can pull up. All I know is that the converter I have now is 3000-3200 and seems just fine. But I'm afraid of going with more. I think at 65 mph the car is around there anyway. I think if I went with 3500-3800 stall the trans would heat up on the highway.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,876
Likes: 764
From: Sligo PA
Also I read good things about the new Summit Racing converters. They have a 3000-3200 4l80 converter. Anyone ever use one of these?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 6,943
Likes: 1,490
From: New Jersey
The only possible I reason I can think of for going with a higher stall would be because the 4l80 is quoted as being "heavy" on the first gear. 2.5 vs 3 iirc. So maybe they're thinking to compensate for that. But honestly if it works now I'd stick with it because that isn't a huge difference and the drops between gears are imo better in the 80... around 3000 doesn't seem high to me for an ls1 but thats me...
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Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Just run what you got see how it acts. Use a good trans cooler...those trannies are stout.