Tim,

What year is your car? Do you also have a shift kit in your trans?

Ron

 

Raplh,

How do you feel about the difference in the stall speeds recommended by both of the mfgs? In addition, do you feel that the difference in TC diameter is to account for that?

Thanks,

Ron


[Modified by RonRed89, 4:46 PM 6/17/2003]

 

:iagree: Been nothin but pleased with mine :thumbs:

 

I just got a 2,400 Holeshot from B&M. We'll see what happens when i install it.:) My friends have had these in their F bodies and worked well. It droped my friend Carb'd 86 305 from 15.00 to 14.6 with just a stall.

 

Give the guys at http://www.edgeracingconverters.com (Edge Racing Converters) a call.
Reasonably priced and they build a converter specifically for your setup (the converter even gets its own serial number). I've been running a Street Edge 9.5" 2800 stall behind an LT4/Hotcam conversion with a 100HP shot of nitrous and it has been flawless for the 2K miles I've put on it so far.
Customer service is outstanding. I think it would be worth the call.




[Modified by Dan Parker '96, 11:46 AM 6/17/2003]

 

Ron, with your setup, i would think the higher stall would be perferable. I'm not sure why PT recommended less. All of PTs top of the line lockup converters are 10 1/2" and i think all the Vigs are 9 1/2. At these relatively low stalls, the diameter isn't all that important. The PT probably has more surface area for the lockup clutch vs the vigilante. Other than that both mfr can adjust the stalls to over 3000. I know the PT starts to loose efficiency if they try to set it too lose (like 3500 behind my engine), where the Vig's smaller diamater allows them to go a little higher without signicantly effecting effiicency. But that is probably too high for your setup and intended use anyway.





[Modified by ralph, 2:41 PM 6/17/2003]

 

Ralph,

Here's the first dyno pull on the car. Power is less than I had hoped, but feel that theres still more tuning and timing that can be done. However, Torque seems to be pretty constant in the midrange. Does this change anyone's recommendations?



Thanks all,

Ron

 

Will do and let you all know what they've recommended. I had heard of them before, but didn't see many folks running them (atleast the folks who post in this Forum board).

Ron

 

Ron, did you share that info with protorque? Might be why they said 2400.....maybe their 2800 would only stall to 2400 with that curve. Just guess'n, but you're right, those number look anemic for your combo. Unless the cam is a bad match (not crazy about the 110 LSA or the dual pattern) or the heads were done poorly. I'm guess'n mine makes around 400HP at the FW which would convert to about 330 at the wheels.

btw, i would still stick with the higher stall. you want to get to your torque peak ASAP. Your peak looks like it's over 3000. Just keep in mind as your power goes up so does your stall. Reason i asked the first question.


[Modified by ralph, 8:30 PM 6/17/2003]


[Modified by ralph, 8:31 PM 6/17/2003]

 

Ralph,

Long story with this combo. Needless to say that I got burnt by a locally respected tuner. More research next time. However contrary to the crappy dyno, the car runs really well. I'm hoping to get to the track tomorrow for the first time on this combo and see what I can pull off. btw: I was hoping for 400 at the crank, I'm not even close. :-) (don't get me started on last summer's "experience") :-)

I'm still leaning towards the 2800 stall myself. Joe did ask about the dyno numbers which I gave him. I did not have it scanned at the time and will be e-mailing it to him to see if he changes his recommendation.


[Modified by RonRed89, 8:47 PM 6/17/2003]

 

Finally spoke with Yank today. I have to say that I was a little disturbed by the conversation. While these guys may cater to Lingenfelter, they didn't seem to know much about my application before quickly suggesting a convertor. Once I recited the pertinent information (the answers to the questions all of the other mfgs has asked about), they changed their recommendation to the Yank ST3500 10" convertor.

I asked about street reliability/manners, and was told, "we sell a lot of these for C5s". I proceeded to mention the important fact that my car was not a C5, and she said they work well on the LT1s as well.

Needless to say, I may have been talking to the wrong person on the phone today, but I'm not left with much confidence that this is the right place to buy from.

So, we've now got 3 fairly different recommendations. Based on the completeness of what all of the mfgs have asked, I'm very much leaning towards with Vigilante with the ProTorque as a second choice.

Your thoughts?

Ron

 

I think both protorque and PI make good converters. I am particularily fond of my Vig 3000 rpm with my Superram equiped motor, which has produced a best 1.52 60 ft with a motor that doesn't make very much HP.

In any regards, you said earlier...." I don't want to turn the car into a drag queen (motor isn't that big), but some fun burnouts on the street and nice 60 times on DRs would be nice."..... with that in mind, you would probably be served better with just buying a $ 300 SLP 2400-2600 rpm 12" converter. With your set-up, should provide 60 fts right around 1.70 flat give or take a hair and of course will allow for some fun burnouts as you desire. However, keep in mind, when you're burning your tires.... you're not going anywhere.

If optimum dragstrip performance was your goal, then I'd suggest to go ahead and spend the extra dough for a smaller diameter converter and opt for a Vigalante 3200 rpm converter, which in my opinion, is the converter your motor would want for best dragstrip performance.

As Ralph knows, I think his 60 fts would drop into the 1.5's if he had a few hundred more rpm of converter. Your set-up is very close to his. But I agree with him about your cam choice... wouldn't been my 1st choice.

As another note, my Vig 3000 rpm converter is not loose on the street... can barely notice a difference between this converter and my stock converter. I think this is because of our low rpm torque in the motor, whereas a LT-1 or LS-1, high stall converters are typically more soggy in the lower rpm range.

good luck on your choice.
Beach Bum

 

All,

Here is an email exchange with Edge Racing:

E-Mail 1:
----------
> Hello Rony and thanks for inquiring,
> I recommend the "Street Edge" series for your application. This converter
> is custom tailored for each combination.
> The "Street Edge" series 700r4 can be configured for a much improved
> launch, better response through mid range and no loss of topend. Built
> tight, with no flash stall added means you build no excess heat. With 8
> impellers to select from and 8 stators to adjust STR. This means NO
bending,
> NO cutting... No heat! The lock up feature is upgraded to the "high
carbon"
> friction and the taper has been removed from the apply surface for a
firmer,
> more efficient topend. You will find the "Street Edge" series will do all
> you want at the track and still retain 100% of the manners needed for
light
> to light, every day driving.
> Stall math is a choice, but the small block Chevy (350) responds well to
> settings above 2800rpm.
> We sell the fully upgraded "Street Edge" 700r4 for 490.00 with a one year
> warranty and a 100% money back satisfaction guarantee.
> Please let me know if you have other questions, or call us at 888 350
EDGE.

E-Mail 2: (sent him dyno plot posted in this thread)
-----------
Hello again Rony,
For track only application I would suggest 3600 stall and many would run
this number on the street as well. For a 80% streeter with a performance
minded driver I would compromise the math to 3000-3200rpm in a tightly
configured converter. This will behave as stock if you roll lightly into the
throttle, but give you a great launch when you launch at wide open throttle,
or build stall on the foot brake.
Other questions? Give us a call at 888 350 EDGE

Price for this convertor is under 500.

Ron

 

Beach,

Thanks for your input. Like you and Ralph, I'm not too thrilled with the outcome of my ex-tuner's buildup. Unfortunately I didn't do as much research as I needed to do, and went on some bad advise.

In terms of SLP vs Vigilante and the like, my future goal is to re-do the buildup and go with bigger cubes next time. Thus, by putting a nicer convertor in now, I can avoid having to buy one again with a larger cube motor. Is this just wasting money? Not sure.

The Edge racing guys seemed to be very knowledgeable. Perhaps their 490 price is closer to that of a 300 SLP, but closer to the construction of the more expensive Vigilante or Protorque.

I do like your interpretation of street manners with the L98. That helps to shed some more light on the situation.

Thank you,

Ron

 

Ron, go to the protorque website......there is a lot of info on the inner workings of converters and build quality. You might want to compare that to the Edge converter. I have no experience with the Edge converter and don't know anyone that has used one. It sounds like they are making the right recommendations, but you would be the pioneer. I know the Vig and PT work well and are high quality units. If you run a 1.50 short with the Edge, then i'll be their next customer :lol:

Good luck

 

There are people on the forum running the edge converters just not many. I think I am going to take a chance and try one. They do sound very knowledgeable. I would find out exactly what they recommend and what you want then i would watch ebay. Edge has converters on ebay quite often, might save a few pennies.

 

Well, bad news. Not only were the track times horrible, but the worst possible thing that could have happened has just seemingly happened. Looks like I may have spun a bearing or done some damage to a piston during today's drag runs. The car is now down until we can pull the motor and figure out what the hell is wrong. Looks like it's now time for a 383 or 396. Too bad this motor lasted 1000 miles. Some build up.

I'll post more later once I have a clue as to what happened.

Ron

 

I am due to install my edge converter in shortly. I always seem to buy from people that good information and who take the time to customize it for you.

my Buys
Summit Racing - yes they do answer phones
Mallet - If I only had the cash for a mallet motor AND a C5
My Local Engine builder - Actually both race engine builder's
Edge - (pro torque recommended 3500 stall, vigi-never answer the phone) 3200 stall with zero/no flash <- this is not a drag converter
Art Carr tranny -

No Buys
Zip - Magically shipping and handling charges
....