Torque Converters?

what exactly does a torque converter do? should they only be used for a car you bring to the track or drive around normally? and what does it matter what stall speed you to use like 3000 or 3800?

First off a torque converter allows the engine to decouple from the rest of the drivetrain at slow speeds.it adds effective gear multiplication to get out of the hole a lot quicker. stall speed is the rpm which the torque converter effectivily locks the motor to the driveline and multiples the torque at a 1 to 1 ratio. now if your going to buy one and call someone to find out the best one for you they have to know
-compression ratio
-displacment
-cam profile
-carb or injector size
-trans model year and gear ratios
-rear end gear ratio
-weight of vehicle
-how your gonna drive it (exe. 80% street 20% track)
- and last but not least the type of car.

well hope this helped.

the higher the stall speed the higher you can rev the engine at the launch. higher revs mean you can launch higher in the power band giving you more power at launch...

well how does that work with automatic?

well how does that work with automatic?


I'm assuming you're asking how does it have different stall speeds? Its mainly the vains inside the TC. The TC slips until the stall speed is reached. ITs like taking a 6 speed, reving it up to 3500 and dropping the clutch. same concept only on an auto. most LS1 guys run at least a 3400 stall and some run as high as 4400 stall on the street.


Death 17 did a good job of explaining it.

do you have one darkblueta?

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/torque-converter.htm

this link should explain EVERYTHING you need to know, it's a great site and check out the other stuff too.

do you have one darkblueta?

Nope Torque Converters are for automatics only. I have a T56(6speed).

ok so say i got a 3800 torque converter. does it just give me more low end torque? what do you have to do off the line thats different? i dont quite understand. do you like rev the engine to 3800 in neutral or somthin and when it reachs 3800 u throw it into drive? or does it just give u more low end torque up to 3800 rpm?

well ideally what you would do is put the car in drive, hold the brake down with your left foot, and with your right foot press on the gas until the engine revved up to a point just under 3800 rpm. at that point you would release the brake and the car would launch. thats what we mean when you can launch at a higher rpm with a higher stall speed. sorry for the bad help, didnt know what you wanted to know...

now can u do that without a torque converter at all? or would that kill ur brakes? cuz i have 3.73's installed

the higher the stall speed the higher you can rev the engine at the launch. higher revs mean you can launch higher in the power band giving you more power at launch...

What happens when you rev the engine higher than the TC's stall speed? You won't break anything, will you?

now can u do that without a torque converter at all? or would that kill ur brakes? cuz i have 3.73's installed


You can do that...its called Neutral drop...which is what will kill your tranny faster then this fat kid going after a big mac :lol2:

Just like Death said....You put your foot on the brake, bring it up to just under the stall speed(3800) and then let your foot off the brake and away you go. Its just like reving a manual to 3800 and letting the clutch out. The car will drive just like normal. As long as you don't go spinning your tires with the rear brakes on, you'll be fine.

What happens when you rev the engine higher than the TC's stall speed? You won't break anything, will you?


No...you'll just spin the rear tires :lol:

i guess u have to hold that brake down hard, but ok that sounds easy enough ill have to get one in the future...oh and what would the labor cost on a Torque Converter is it a simple thing to install or no? could any decent mechanic do it or should professionals?

i guess u have to hold that brake down hard, but ok that sounds easy enough ill have to get one in the future...oh and what would the labor cost on a Torque Converter is it a simple thing to install or no? could any decent mechanic do it or should professionals?

Anyone who knows how to work on a car(mechanic/speed shop) can do it in a few hours.

Where do you live and I might be able to direct you into the right direction. IM me and I'll let you know who to go to.

Is this a good TC to get:

http://www.slponline.com/view_product.asp?PARTNUMBER=60122

And is that a good price? $849 seems kind of pricey to me but thats because I have no idea how much a good one is supposed to cost.

BTW, what is the stall speed in a stock Trans Am? 3800? According to the description of that TC, it says it'll raise your stall speed to about 3300 to 3500 RPMs. So if a TA's stock stall speed is already 3800, wouldnt it be pointless to get that particular TC?

Is this a good TC to get:

http://www.slponline.com/view_product.asp?PARTNUMBER=60122

And is that a good price? $849 seems kind of pricey to me but thats because I have no idea how much a good one is supposed to cost.

BTW, what is the stall speed in a stock Trans Am? 3800? According to the description of that TC, it says it'll raise your stall speed to about 3300 to 3500 RPMs. So if a TA's stock stall speed is already 3800, wouldnt it be pointless to get that particular TC?

#1 Rule of thumb. Stay the hell away from SLP. After getting their subframe connectors and having to modify them to fit, I swore them off. Not only that, I have heard people having to modify their exhaust systems(ypipe/loudmouth) to fit.

Here is a good place to buy parts for Ellis. Thunder Racing. Also, a good message board for LS1s is www.LS1Tech.com Very good site for any technical information.

http://www.thunderracing.com/catalog/?action=vshop&vid=3&pcid=73
This is the page to their TCs.

Get a stall speed between 3400-3800 for a stock or slightly bolt on car.

The stock converter on LS1s are 1800 not 3800.

true...also check out http://www.lmperformance.com/