Maybe silly but here goes...If I install say a ss3200 stall, does this mean I won't even know it's there until I hit 3200rpms? Also, one thing that bothers me is last night I read a post were someone said, with a torque converter that in the lower rpm ranges, it will feel like your riding the clutch or your trans. is slipping. This is hindering my buying one...any thoughts are appreciated....tom3257

 

NO! It will feel lighter in the pedal but you'll be able to drive normally around town and it will not feel as if the clutch were slipping in a M6.

The TQ CNVTR is computer controlled and it will assist the TQ CNVTR. Remember that it is a lock up CNVTR w/computer actuation. But when you stab it it will ramp up and launch hard at the point where your TQ actually comes in (i.e. if your tq comes in at 3000 this is where it will engage)

Hope this helps! I used to run a 3500 stall in my 66 chevelle and had no problems at all around town in a Turbo 350 A3 trans!

Thanks,Matt

 

You will notice the difference. How much difference will depend on the type of TC you get (specifically the STR ratio)
Now while it is nothing like the non lock up high stalls of old, it does make a differnce in how "mushy" if you will, it feels around town. I have a SY3500 with a relativly low STR ratio on a highly modded car, and I diffintly noticed the difference when I first changed it. My wife has 3000 stall with a high STR on a less modded car and she noticed it too.
We have a slightly inclined drive, approx. 150ft long and she has often commented on how the car seems to "stain" (her words) more when easing up the drive.
The question IMHO, will be in the trade off. When I asked her if she would rather go back to the stock converter (and give up her burnouts at 20mph) she said NO WAY!!
So in summary, while IMPO you will notice a little difference throttle response at off idle (and a little less mpg) the difference in performance will be night and day. It was, and would be again, the first mod I'd do to an auto.

 

I've got 3.73 gears and a Yank SS3200 stall converter - I can't tell that it isn't stock till I mash the pedal, (then hang onto your seat), and my wife can't tell it's not stock either (and don't none of you tell her either! )

Get a 3200 or 3600 stall - you won't regret it - The only thing you might regret is not getting a BIG enough stall converter.

 

One, no matter what anyone says when you FIRST start driving the car after you install the TC the gas pedal will definately feel soft - meaning that it will feel like you have to get the engine into a SLIGHTLY higher rpm to get it moving, like there's "slack" in the first 1" of gas pedal travel..
Two, I guarantee this "feeling" will "go away" in 2 or 3 test drives.
Three, the BASIC idea of a torque converter is to increase the rpms of the engine rapidly into the rpm range where your engine produces max torque (GO!). Consequently, when you increase the size of the the TC ie., 2600 to 3600, it will feel, at normal around town stop and go driving, like you have to depress the gas pedal furthur to get the 3600 moving than the 2600.
Fourth, BUT when you "hit" the gas the 3600 will pop you back into your seat like crazy and all that "feels soft" BS will, instantly, leave your mind and will be replaced by a very LARGE smile.
Fifth, if you do the tc bigger is usually consider better BUT that really depends on how far you want to go with other mods. You can't do mods piecemeal because you'll end up spending alot of $ in redundant labor and parts upgrade. Figure where you eventually want to get to then plan which mids to do TOGETHER and in what order. For instance , if you've still got 273 gears you should change them out when you do the TC - saves you labor costs ( even if you do it yourslf ) to do both at the same time.
Sixth, how big a TC and how big a set of gears ?? That's something only you can decide based on what you want to do with your car
( drag, road race, auto-x). You can check my sig for my specs but they don't mean $hit - they forfill what I wanted out of my car - period. Would I change some things if I could do it over ? Sure, but I am happy with the way it turned out - happy enonough to call it quits. Are they a good set of specs for you ? Do enough searches and you'll find out for yourself. But either way make a PLAN.
Seventh, you're heading down a slippery slope so I wish you all good luck.

 

I run 3:42's and a Yank 3500 and by the time I arrived home from the install(500 miles) I did not notice the difference. At normal throttle you will see very little difference. Push the loud pedal down, however and the difference is readily apparent-yahoo.

 

To help you out in your mind a little further, I had the same questions a month ago and one of the guys on the forum (Yankeevette), offered me a ride in his car. I took him up on it Dec 28th in Michigan, he said his car would be different in the spring so I went over to Dick Nunez's home, introduced myself and he handed me his keys and said "let's go!" I sure am glad that I did, now I'm getting a converter with the 373 gears in 2007. Oh, one other thing, if you get 373 gears or more, you won't really notice the 'slippage', his car drove like my car with the 315's until I stomped it, then, hang on to your *** when you hit the gas, it was amazing, felt like I was in my old race car....bob.

 

Go drive someone's car that has a non-stock converter. I think you will like it but not EVERYONE does.


DH

 

I installed 3:90 gears and a vig 2800 stall the first time driving it it felt a little sluggish off the line at slow speeds . after that I have a hard time telling it's there till I hit it the hold on smoke time