T/C verses Gear Change
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 357
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From: Lenoir Tn
T/C verses Gear Change
I have a 2004 vert with 273 gear. Only mods are kooks headers, B&B exhaust, X pipes and Vararam induction. Would a T/C help me without changing the gears. I'm just looking for a little more bottom end. I dont race the car. Drive it on the interstate most of the time. Thanks for any help> 
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
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Originally Posted by glind46677
I have a 2004 vert with 273 gear. Only mods are kooks headers, B&B exhaust, X pipes and Vararam induction. Would a T/C help me without changing the gears. I'm just looking for a little more bottom end. I dont race the car. Drive it on the interstate most of the time. Thanks for any help>
A higher stall converter will give better performance than gears, but with those 2.73s will cost you some drivability. If you don't mind some looseness then go for it.
Going to say 3.42 gears will improve your performance, albeit not to the extent of a much higher stall, and won't cost you much in terms of drivability. With the stock converter the car won't feel loose.
Since you don't race, I would skip the torque converter entirely. Not worth the drivability issues with 2.73s. I would do gears instead.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2005
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Originally Posted by EB20003
Sort of a trade off.
A higher stall converter will give better performance than gears, but with those 2.73s will cost you some drivability. If you don't mind some looseness then go for it.
A higher stall converter will give better performance than gears, but with those 2.73s will cost you some drivability. If you don't mind some looseness then go for it.
A T/C will definately give you more performance than just a gear swap. Give Yank converters a call and see if you can still get their TT2800 converter. This converter will work nicely with your 2.73 gears because of its very high 3.0 STR. However if you can afford it get the SS3200 with 3.42 gears.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 240
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From: Highlands Ranch Co
I agree with Mike. I did the the 3.42 gears then 6 months later did the t/c vigalante 2800. The most noticeable difference was the t/c. I now lost the dead spots(those areas at which the car bogs down and has to wait till rpms rise to really acelerate) that people with 2.73 gears and stock t/c complain about. You see if you just do one or the other do the gears,because the car will still behave just like stock. I recommend doing both! It is the same labor and with both done your car will drive like stock but have this extra performance mode for when you really want to get on it.
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