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

REALLY basic torque converter question

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Old Oct 27, 2004 | 01:26 PM
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Default REALLY basic torque converter question

Automatic transmissions have never been my strength and I know little (ok, almost nothing) about them.

So here goes - What is the significance of stall speed? When is higher/lower desirable?

Sorry - but I had to ask
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Old Oct 27, 2004 | 01:34 PM
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"stall speed" is the engine rpm that the TC allows at full throttle starts.
A higher stall speed TC lets the engine rev higher at the start, putting it deeper into the power band. For an engine with all its power located up in the higher rpm range, this is a real advantage.
For stock motors, it just makes it feel like the transmission is slipping...IMHO.

Larry
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Old Oct 27, 2004 | 01:49 PM
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higher stall is desirable when your torque peak is at a higher rpm, close to the torque peak is where you want to be

For L98s the torque peak is low, so 2000-2200rpm is desirable, whereas the LT1s is up higher so for optimum 1/4mi times the stall needs to be 3000 or higher.

But for a street driven car the stall should be kept below about 2600 or it'll feel really weird.
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Old Oct 27, 2004 | 01:52 PM
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Thanks - That makes sense - at least to me. Since I plan to keep my engine basically stock and am more into solo/auto-x type stuff than drags I guess I don't have to worry about the TC either. Good to know.
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Old Oct 27, 2004 | 04:06 PM
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What year Vette do you have?? I think the early TC were around 2,000rpm and later ones about 1,500rpm.

I had a 2,000rpm installed in my '88 and it feels stock for normal driving but does launch a lot harder. I have a 3,000rpm TC in the IROC and didn't want one that "loose" for the Vette.

For auto X you might consider a TransGo shift kit with a manual valve body setup, if you don't mind doing your shifting manually on the street too.
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Old Oct 27, 2004 | 05:49 PM
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Originally Posted by 65Z01
What year Vette do you have?? I think the early TC were around 2,000rpm and later ones about 1,500rpm.

I had a 2,000rpm installed in my '88 and it feels stock for normal driving but does launch a lot harder. I have a 3,000rpm TC in the IROC and didn't want one that "loose" for the Vette.

For auto X you might consider a TransGo shift kit with a manual valve body setup, if you don't mind doing your shifting manually on the street too.
Its an '88 'vert. As for the TransGo - no I would have preferred a stick anyway but it wasn't a deal breaker so something like that might be good to look into. Do they have a website or anything?
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Old Oct 27, 2004 | 06:13 PM
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Check with Summit for pricing.
http://www.transgo.com/
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