Torque converter Questions!

[Tman]

OK tranny gurus, I have a question. What stall would you run in a 348 Chevy powered T touring. Powerglide tranny, Ford 9" with 3.89 gears. 30 inch tall tires. Projected weight of the car is 1900-2000 lbs. I have been told 2500 or just the roughly 1800 stocker. All the cars I have been in with the lower stall felt like the motor was always pushing you, even completely stopped. Thanks.

[Fat Hack]

If you are buiding a light car with a fairly stout V8, a "looser" converter will take care of that "push" you are refering to. True stall speed is affected by MANY variables...everything from engine torque, to vehicle weight, axle ratio, tire size and inflation!

The stall speed ratings applied to most mass produced converters give you a general idea, but if you put a "2500 RPM" stall converter into a stock 4000 pound mid seventies tank with a mild 305 and 2.73 gears, it may only actually stall at 1800 RPM, where the exact same converter in a 454 powered Vega chassis car with 4.88 gears may stall at 2900 RPM.

For your described application, I'd suggest a 2500-3000 RPM rated converter given your trans choice and rearend ratio, although you can get away with a "milder" converter if the car will be primarily a cruiser.

(Talk to my brother-in-law, "flaw'd" on the HAMB (registered, but no posts yet). He just got Donzie's old tub, a 29 Model A on the road. It has a dual quad 348 in it with a TH350 and the very mild converter that Donzie had behind his 327 in it. Too early to tell if it "pushes" or not, but it works and drives, with 3.08 (I think) gears.)

Flaw'd also owns a T-coupe with a 406 Chevy that he had a custom stall converter built for...since the one that came in the car tended to push and lug as you've described. I forget the name of the company he went with, but that guy only builds his converters on a per-order basis...not cheap, but it will be EXACTLY right for YOUR application. You can send my bro a PM, or I will ask him for the details when I see him tomorrow.

[Cadillacin Marcus]

What Hack said...

[Unkl Ian]

If you had a stock converter from a 283,it should give a slightly higher stall with the larger motor.
Try it,see what happens.

[OldCarPilot]

For me one of the best things I learned was... At highway speeds what is your RPM? About that is where you want your stall to be. I have a hot 355 in my 57 belair with a 3.36 rear end. Highway speeds gave me about 3000 RPM, so I got a stall converter that was bout 2700.
From idle to shifting into gear it drops about 50 RPM.

[draggin'GTO]

Try Continental Torque Converters. (http://ctconverters.com/)

Each one is custom-built for each specific application. I have used two of them, definitely top performers. Just bought a third one to install in my '64 Tempest street car. Way better to get one made for your combo than to hope an off-the-shelf unit will match up. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Not cheap, but definitely one of the best.

730 E. Centinela Ave.
Inglewood CA
(310) 674-1072 Ask for Kris, he'll hook ya up.

[choprods]

None of my bussiness Trent- -but that rear gear and a 348 dont need to be together.Id go with a 2500 stall and a 3:0 gear/taking advantage of the tourqe/lite weight[and savin the bottom end] of a motor that has a reputation for grenading at hi R's........
Im runnin a 3.0=in my 9" in the 31 roadster with a 409 and stock convertor.......gonna save that gas ya know...... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Tman]

Kenny, are you gettin scared? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif I am pretty sure the 2500 will be my ticket from experience. See you in MoKan

[choprods]

YES-I am Askeered.......Im afraid to start up my supposedly nearly new 409 and hear a knock in it!
That is how scared I am........they dont have a very good rep! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gifIll be the slowest ET at the DRAGS- thats a given! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[fab32]

Since when does a 409 have a bad reputation for coming unglued? If that is the case better get someone else to build your engines. We ran a couple of 409's in the early 60's, held some Nat'l records and ran the piss out of them. We never lost an engine. With today's components (better rod bolts, better bearings, valve train parts, and better oil) I'd expect even more reliability.

Frank

[choprods]

I was referring to a 348......not a 409.....By the way-GM built this 409 fab32 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif-[a GM replacement longblock from a lo mile grain truck] but if you think back that was 40 years ago....a guy would be stupid not to even consider it possible that it could happen!

[JOECOOL]

I will agree with Fat Hack, you also need to consider what low gear your trans has ,A Turbo 400 will act totally different than a Powerglide. I buy all my converters from a guy in Kansas City area and he has always done a wonderfull job for us . Let me know if you need to call him and I'll get his # to you.