Gears or Converter?
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Joined: Dec 2004
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Gears or Converter?
Hello,
I have a question and would like member's opinions. I have a 95 Auto, with the Dana 36, 3.07 rearend. I want to have some work done to make it a little faster, quicker. I don't really care about top speed. A friend of mine suggested I just put in a new torque converter with a 1500 stall speed. I was thinking 3.54 gears. Opinions on what would be better bang for the buck in an everyday driver? Thanks for the replies.
I have a question and would like member's opinions. I have a 95 Auto, with the Dana 36, 3.07 rearend. I want to have some work done to make it a little faster, quicker. I don't really care about top speed. A friend of mine suggested I just put in a new torque converter with a 1500 stall speed. I was thinking 3.54 gears. Opinions on what would be better bang for the buck in an everyday driver? Thanks for the replies.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Jenison MI
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
A 1500 stall would be like 500 less then what you have now. Now a 2800 would be good. But for less then what the stall is going to cost you gears would be the better way to go. Go with a set of 3.54's or 3.73 and you will have a big 
every time you drive it.
every time you drive it.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,956
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From: Marlboro country MA
Originally Posted by fsr402
A 1500 stall would be like 500 less then what you have now. Now a 2800 would be good. But for less then what the stall is going to cost you gears would be the better way to go. Go with a set of 3.54's or 3.73 and you will have a big every time you drive it.
every time you drive it.
A TC will only help you on the launch; gears will help all the way down.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 11
From: Savannah Ga.
3.54s or 3.73s 
''CAN YOU SAY TIME BOMB''
the rearend will not hold up long and you will have to replace it...been there and done that.....you will get many opinions but no money to help replace that weak D36......if you are going to keep that motor stock then go with 2800 stall converter...or even a 3000 stall and you
will have all the punch off the line a non drag radial car can handle without spinning issues on launch PEACE!!!!
''CAN YOU SAY TIME BOMB''the rearend will not hold up long and you will have to replace it...been there and done that.....you will get many opinions but no money to help replace that weak D36......if you are going to keep that motor stock then go with 2800 stall converter...or even a 3000 stall and you
will have all the punch off the line a non drag radial car can handle without spinning issues on launch PEACE!!!!
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 11
From: Savannah Ga.
Originally Posted by ZumZum
Maybe someone will correct me here, but I believe a higher stall converter will also create more heat, possibly shortening transmission life in a stock unit.
thanks for the reminder he's 100% correct you need to add a tranny cooler......the cost is reasonable and it's added insurance..
but with that said you would need the cooler even if you decided on the gears....I ran 3.54s with stock TC for 2yrs did not have a cooler ..fried the tranny had to rebuilt.....PEACE!!!
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Originally Posted by fsr402
A 1500 stall would be like 500 less then what you have now. Now a 2800 would be good. But for less then what the stall is going to cost you gears would be the better way to go. Go with a set of 3.54's or 3.73 and you will have a big every time you drive it.
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Le Mans Master
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From: Jenison MI
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St. Jude Donor '06
I'm pretty sure that the stock stall on the LT1's is around 2000.
As for the D36 not handling the gears. It's a hit or mis. I have been running 3.73's in mine for over 2 years and have not had a problem. I'm pulling 1.8's in 60' and she is still in one piece. But other guys have had them come apart right away. where as others all pulling great 60' times without a problem. If you are going to go to the drag strip a lot you will in time need the D44 rear because of the sticky stuff that they put on the track. But if you just want better light to light your D36 is fine. You will spin the tires way before you will brake it.
If you do want a higher stall go with 2500 - 2800 stall. But really you wont get the same feeling from the stall as you will with gears.
As for the D36 not handling the gears. It's a hit or mis. I have been running 3.73's in mine for over 2 years and have not had a problem. I'm pulling 1.8's in 60' and she is still in one piece. But other guys have had them come apart right away. where as others all pulling great 60' times without a problem. If you are going to go to the drag strip a lot you will in time need the D44 rear because of the sticky stuff that they put on the track. But if you just want better light to light your D36 is fine. You will spin the tires way before you will brake it.
If you do want a higher stall go with 2500 - 2800 stall. But really you wont get the same feeling from the stall as you will with gears.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: SE NY
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You can check the TC flash point by rolling our in 1st gear and blipping the accelerator while you watch the tach. The RPM to which the tach jumps before the speedo moves is the flash point, which is close to the TC stall RPM.
I'm not sure of the late C4 TC stall RPM but the '88-'91 A4s came with a 1,500rpm TC. I had a 2,000rpm TC installed and the difference on launch is amazing. If you stay below 2,500rpm on TC stall and go with a 12" lockup TC you can avoid an extra tranny cooler. The higher stall comes with more slippage in the TC, so a smaller TC or too high of a stall creates more heat than can be disipated by the stock cooler.
Gears will indeed bring more torque in each gear, but remember that you will also have to upshift earlier in MPH which will cost torque.
But I agree that doing more gear with a higher stall TC would likely produce too much wheel spin on the street to be useful on launch.
I'm not sure of the late C4 TC stall RPM but the '88-'91 A4s came with a 1,500rpm TC. I had a 2,000rpm TC installed and the difference on launch is amazing. If you stay below 2,500rpm on TC stall and go with a 12" lockup TC you can avoid an extra tranny cooler. The higher stall comes with more slippage in the TC, so a smaller TC or too high of a stall creates more heat than can be disipated by the stock cooler.
Gears will indeed bring more torque in each gear, but remember that you will also have to upshift earlier in MPH which will cost torque.
But I agree that doing more gear with a higher stall TC would likely produce too much wheel spin on the street to be useful on launch.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
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From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by Thomas1
I was kinda leaning towards gears myself. The car will not be run on the drag strip. I just drive like a madman sometimes and I am always looking to get better performance in all the things I drive.
RACE ON!!!
Pro
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 528
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From: Kissimmee Florida
Originally Posted by Thomas1
Hello,
I have a question and would like member's opinions. I have a 95 Auto, with the Dana 36, 3.07 rearend. I want to have some work done to make it a little faster, quicker. I don't really care about top speed. A friend of mine suggested I just put in a new torque converter with a 1500 stall speed. I was thinking 3.54 gears. Opinions on what would be better bang for the buck in an everyday driver? Thanks for the replies.
I have a question and would like member's opinions. I have a 95 Auto, with the Dana 36, 3.07 rearend. I want to have some work done to make it a little faster, quicker. I don't really care about top speed. A friend of mine suggested I just put in a new torque converter with a 1500 stall speed. I was thinking 3.54 gears. Opinions on what would be better bang for the buck in an everyday driver? Thanks for the replies.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,239
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas NV
Originally Posted by Thomas1
Hello,
I have a question and would like member's opinions. I have a 95 Auto, with the Dana 36, 3.07 rearend. I want to have some work done to make it a little faster, quicker. I don't really care about top speed. A friend of mine suggested I just put in a new torque converter with a 1500 stall speed. I was thinking 3.54 gears. Opinions on what would be better bang for the buck in an everyday driver? Thanks for the replies.
I have a question and would like member's opinions. I have a 95 Auto, with the Dana 36, 3.07 rearend. I want to have some work done to make it a little faster, quicker. I don't really care about top speed. A friend of mine suggested I just put in a new torque converter with a 1500 stall speed. I was thinking 3.54 gears. Opinions on what would be better bang for the buck in an everyday driver? Thanks for the replies.
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
I've read here on the forum that the early C4s had a 2000 stall, the later L98s a 1500 and the LT1s only a 1000 stall speed. I'm looking forward to installing a 3000 in the spring after getting caught up on some other improvements. It's already sitting in the garage.....
