Torque converter preferences?

[Injected1]

My build is hopefully in the mid to high 400 hp range with a RPM race 700r4, T66, built vortec head motor bored .30 over, 75# injectors, caltracs, bg 400 fuel pump, 17 gal fuel cell, A2A. I am really curious what everyone would recommend for a TQ. I am looking into RPM's presicion ind. 9.5 2800 stall or Brian Hartmans 9"/11" 2800 stall. Which one would you guys recommend? Oh by the way I can get both for almost the same price so please don't factor that in. Thanks for any help.

 

[JSM]

Re: Torque converter preferences?

I have a Yank myself and happy with it. Bit more of a race convertor but I am happy.

I have done work with Coan convertors also. They are more street friendly but also work well.

The 1 precision I have worked with, is what I would call even more race than the yanks. Good for track, on street a bit more loose.

 

[George Blake]

Re: Torque converter preferences?

If you do the 9.5" PI, like the ones I do, you better get a triple clutch or it will not hold up locking up at WOT.

The yank is a more streetable converter. Those are not recommended to be locked up at WOT. You HAVE to give them REAL numbers or you won't get what you wanted. You have to do some tweaking with the trans lockup arrangement and the stock ecm to get the 9/11 to behave.

I basically recommend a Yank for everyday driving. PI for those that MUST lock it up at WOT. I haven't had much luck with the 9/11 stuff so I just keep quiet on that one.

I've sold PI, Yank, and Coan. What I've learned is that you MUST know EXACTLY what your engine is doing. What exact RPM you make power at, how much torque, HP, etc. If you do NOT know, you need to find out. If you do a "guess", don't chew any manufacturers head off because it's not their fault. You get the numbers wrong and it won't behave right. Too tight, too loose, run hot, etc.

#1 thing. Don't kid yourself into thinking you'll get a big rediculous stall and compensate for it by locking it up early. Doesn't work that way. That's not just for you, that for others looking at this trying to get a converter set up right.

 

[Injected1]

Re: Torque converter preferences?

Where do I get a yank converter? How much for one with a 3000 stall for build?

 

[supersports10]

Re: Torque converter preferences?

i have a yank 2800 that i am extremely happy with

 

[George Blake]

Re: Torque converter preferences?

http://www.converter.cc/
Call them. They give NO vendor discount so all purchases have to be made direct. They do not take credit cards. Too much fraud and they didn't like the fees.
Copied from their website:

BREAK IN PERIOD…

Yank converters have a special clutch lining material that requires a special break in procedure. This procedure consists of: Driving the converter at normal speeds with NO WOT starts or brake stalling the converter for approx, 150 miles. Stall checking or Brake stalling will severely damage the clutch lining if converter is not broke in properly. This will void any warranty.

That should be done with ANY build so clutches and seals have time to seat.

Holy crap. I was looking at Gearstar's website(Yank has links to them).
Before ANY of you CHEAP mofo's care to gander, take a look at that:
http://gearstar.net/transmissions/details.php?unid=290
You guys can bite me.:roll: :rotf:
I'm not charging NEAR enough:
http://gearstar.net/transmissions/details.php?unid=202

 

[Injected1]

Re: Torque converter preferences?

I just spoke to Dave at Yank Converters and I know I'm going with a Yank. BUT he recommended a SS3600 for my build. He says this converter will really stall at 3200. A 3600 really makes me uneasy - Does anyone here have any recommendations??
Also - what should be my wide open throttle shift point for my build above? I was thinking around 5400.

 

[JSM]

Re: Torque converter preferences?

what is your build. Remember during normal driving the lockup will kick in, so it isn't like the old days of a high stall.

I have a 3400 that stalls near that, unless you really pay attention you wouldn't notice it.

 

[Injected1]

Re: Torque converter preferences?

my build is a stock gears, syty performance race 700r4, T66, v6 bored .30, trw l2441 pistons, l35 rods, vortec heads, comp 415, 75# injectors, 1.6 comp rockers, 5 angle valve job, teflon seats, bg 400 fuel pump, 17 gal fuel cell, A2A intercooler, atr headers and downpipe, cometic gaskets, melling oil pump, all arp hardware, abs delete, comp beehive springs, chromoly magnum pushrods. I would like a very streetable truck, should I go with a ss340? I will probably go to a gtq74 in the near future.

 

[ircwet]

Re: Torque converter preferences?

So whats the best stall for a stock setup or mild turbo....

 

[wildphil]

Re: Torque converter preferences?

I just received a Yank converter last week. It is the same one that Dave recommended for your truck. I went with Dave's suggestion and I sure hope he is correct. I thought is sounded like a lot of stall. I figured since he has been building converters for 25 or more years he would know. So far I have only heard good things about Yank converters.

 

[Injected1]

Re: Torque converter preferences?

Hey wildphil it's nick, how soon are you going to have the converter in the truck? I need to order mine in the next 2 weeks.

 

[wildphil]

Re: Torque converter preferences?

I don't think that I will be able to get it installed for a month or so. Dave did tell me that if the stall was not what I needed that he would restall the converter for me. Sure hope he is right because I don't want to pull the transmission to have the converter restalled. Good luck with your decision. Dave was confident on what stall would work best for me and I asked more that once.

 

[George Blake]

Re: Torque converter preferences?

Don't worry. Dave will do you right.

Stall is factored on many engine variables.
SS3600 is the stock number and then how it will behave is based on the engine parameters you talked to him about. It will not stall at 3600 as long as what you told him is correct. It will stall much lower just flashing it up to take off and then stall higher against the foot brake when launching. He knows his stuff. You can tell just from talking to him for a few minutes. Confident as hell.

I just spoke to Dave at Yank Converters and I know I'm going with a Yank. BUT he recommended a SS3600 for my build. He says this converter will really stall at 3200. A 3600 really makes me uneasy - Does anyone here have any recommendations??
Also - what should be my wide open throttle shift point for my build above? I was thinking around 5400.

 

[MIGHTYMOUSE]

Re: Torque converter preferences?

man did you guys see the sweet ass trans am on their website i think its sweet anyways.

 

[Tooky]

Re: Torque converter preferences?

I got a custom "PY3400ELT1" about 4 years ago for $846 on sale. I worked with Mike S. and Dave at Yank. I'm happy with it, it has very nice driveability. Here's a video of how it behaves on a boost launch. NOTHING at all like some of the "9/11"'s I have seen years ago that stalled at 4000 RPM on a boost launch! :roll: :tdown:

I told them I wanted about 2700 RPM stall and to err on the "tight side" if anything (I absolutely hate loose converters with their power-sapping sloppy WOT shifts). They hit it right on the money!!

I told them every detail about my truck. If you want you can reference my converter build "INV #1170" 11/10/04.

The only negative thing I can say is that the WOT lockup is not very firm and it was one of the main reasons I bought the converter (at the time they advertised what a robust lockup clutch it had). My understanding is they change their lockup clutch designs from time to time.

5400 RPM sounds like a good WOT shift point too, by the way.