TORQUE CONVERTERS____A good Choice ?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,675
Likes: 58
From: Hayward (Bay Area) CA
TORQUE CONVERTERS____A good Choice ?
Hey guys,
I've 2 questions -
#1. I'm looking for a used TC for my 99, A4. I've been doing some research and I am learning more about these things. First of all I'd like to know what you guys suggest. I want something that will WAKE! my car up, but won't be bad at gas milage, and would be good for everyday driving. (I'm considering 2800-3200).
#2. I've been told a few ppl to be "extra careful" buying a "used TC". I've been told that half of the times they can ruin the tranny, if they are not in good shape. And looking at one from outside, you can't tell its condition on the inside. So, can you suggest and help me understand if buying a used Tc really IS a bad choice, or not....
Thanks...
I've 2 questions -
#1. I'm looking for a used TC for my 99, A4. I've been doing some research and I am learning more about these things. First of all I'd like to know what you guys suggest. I want something that will WAKE! my car up, but won't be bad at gas milage, and would be good for everyday driving. (I'm considering 2800-3200).
#2. I've been told a few ppl to be "extra careful" buying a "used TC". I've been told that half of the times they can ruin the tranny, if they are not in good shape. And looking at one from outside, you can't tell its condition on the inside. So, can you suggest and help me understand if buying a used Tc really IS a bad choice, or not....
Thanks...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,743
Likes: 3
From: Davie Florida
Originally Posted by Vette_Fan
Hey guys,
I've 2 questions -
#1. I'm looking for a used TC for my 99, A4. I've been doing some research and I am learning more about these things. First of all I'd like to know what you guys suggest. I want something that will WAKE! my car up, but won't be bad at gas milage, and would be good for everyday driving. (I'm considering 2800-3200).
#2. I've been told a few ppl to be "extra careful" buying a "used TC". I've been told that half of the times they can ruin the tranny, if they are not in good shape. And looking at one from outside, you can't tell its condition on the inside. So, can you suggest and help me understand if buying a used Tc really IS a bad choice, or not....
Thanks...
I've 2 questions -
#1. I'm looking for a used TC for my 99, A4. I've been doing some research and I am learning more about these things. First of all I'd like to know what you guys suggest. I want something that will WAKE! my car up, but won't be bad at gas milage, and would be good for everyday driving. (I'm considering 2800-3200).
#2. I've been told a few ppl to be "extra careful" buying a "used TC". I've been told that half of the times they can ruin the tranny, if they are not in good shape. And looking at one from outside, you can't tell its condition on the inside. So, can you suggest and help me understand if buying a used Tc really IS a bad choice, or not....
Thanks...
Unfortunately there is no way of telling if a T/C is good by just looking at it. Unless you know the car it came out of. Send the T/C back to its maker and have it rebuilt before installing it in your car.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 23,682
Likes: 9
From: Flagstaff Az.
convertors
If you plan on keeping the engine stock the 3200 would be all right, if you plan on mods go with something higher. I run a 3500 on the street and it is hardly noticable to me anymore. I would suggest buying a used one only from someone such as Andy at A&A who will guarantee it for you. If you get a used one full of debris there goes your tranny.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,464
Likes: 7
I agree it would have to be a new one for me, very likely cheaper in the long run. What I would like to understand is I have been told to have a torque converter that has a higher stall then what your highway rpm is out on the road is not good. For an example if at 70mph you are runnig 1750 rpm any stall over that rpm means the converter is still slipping and building heat. How does this work?
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Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 610
Likes: 8
From: bellflower ca
yank SS3600 with 3.42 here. improved my 60 ft time by.3 seconds and 1/8 mile by almost .4 secs. bought it brand new from Dave at Yank Converter. it might be worth spending the extra couple hundred dollars on a brand new system. as far as driving on the street, i easily got used to the "sluggish" feeling on low RPMs, but step on it and it responds quickly.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,506
Likes: 5
From: West Michigan crew Mich
CI 7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08 & '12
Originally Posted by Dave00C5
Get a Vigilante 3200 .
But you will spend more on tires
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 908
Likes: 4
From: TROY MI
Originally Posted by 16Again
If you buy used and it turns out to be bad, you get to pay the labor bill twice with no recourse. Your better off with new. 
I had that happen to me.I bought one that was 4 months old and never"beat on' from a forum member. The TC would not lock up and caused my tranny to overheat. It pluged my trans cooler and I ended up buying a new one .I had to pay for installaton twice.I was lucky that I did not have to buy a new trans also.BUY A NEW ONE.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,675
Likes: 58
From: Hayward (Bay Area) CA
3 questions guys -
#1. If anyone has had good luck with a used one, plz let us know, cuz most ppl here seem to say buy a new one...
#2. You guys who HAVE bought the new ones, can you plz post the sources (vendors) from where you bought and for how much? That would really help out this thread, and complete the info needed. I know there are many places a person can buy TC's from, but each of us does our own research and try to find "good deals". I'm looking for a "good deal" too.
#3. What the main diff (benefits) between Vigilante & Yank. Both seem to be popular. Any major diff or just personal preference?
Any additional info would be helpful too. This sujbect about TC's, not too many ppl really understand how it works and its fuctions. I'm one of them. I just know it wakes up the car from the start line, and passing on the freeway. Plz educate ppl like me.
Thanks, once again...
#1. If anyone has had good luck with a used one, plz let us know, cuz most ppl here seem to say buy a new one...
#2. You guys who HAVE bought the new ones, can you plz post the sources (vendors) from where you bought and for how much? That would really help out this thread, and complete the info needed. I know there are many places a person can buy TC's from, but each of us does our own research and try to find "good deals". I'm looking for a "good deal" too.
#3. What the main diff (benefits) between Vigilante & Yank. Both seem to be popular. Any major diff or just personal preference?
Any additional info would be helpful too. This sujbect about TC's, not too many ppl really understand how it works and its fuctions. I'm one of them. I just know it wakes up the car from the start line, and passing on the freeway. Plz educate ppl like me.
Thanks, once again...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth Texas
The biggest question is what do you plan on doing with your car? What gears do you have?
Since I don't do much drag racing, I went with 3.42's and the stock converter. Really woke the car up from the 2.73's!
Since I don't do much drag racing, I went with 3.42's and the stock converter. Really woke the car up from the 2.73's!
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 132
From: Plano TX
Used Torque Converter? You are joking right? Seriously.. thats totally nuts... How much money are you going to save? Its not even worth thinking about. By the way I'm looking for a used piston, a used camshaft and used springs to put in my engine. I'm going to pull the motor apart and put these in in place of the original parts to see if my motor will run better
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,675
Likes: 58
From: Hayward (Bay Area) CA
Originally Posted by debmwb
The biggest question is what do you plan on doing with your car? What gears do you have?
Since I don't do much drag racing, I went with 3.42's and the stock converter. Really woke the car up from the 2.73's!
Since I don't do much drag racing, I went with 3.42's and the stock converter. Really woke the car up from the 2.73's!
. (Some said just get the TC changed, not necessary to do gears. Some say just the gears are good nuff). But most ppl have adviced that I should do a TC change too, while I'm getting the gears done.My goal: I don't race frequently, but I wanna have some kick in the car, incase a Stang/SC Cobra pulls next to me. And I do intend to take it to the track, but not as a regular (every weekend racer). Still want it to be a very fast car... There, that's my goal.
Now do I change the gears, the TC, or both? Thanks guys, keep the educational info coming in...
Last edited by Vette_Fan; Jul 29, 2006 at 02:35 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 10
From: Monticello MN
Look at www.LS1tech.com under "automatic transmissions". Those guys change out parts like I do socks. There is some real knowledge over there. Personally, I have a heads, cam, longtubes, etc., etc., C5, which is a daily driver. I went with the Yank SS3200 and absolutely love it. It is a "tight" converter that really gets with the program when you call on it. The best of all worlds, IMHO.
Ed
Ed