torque converters? what?

[wookiesZ28]

I never thought about torque converters before, I don't even know what they do exactly. But I recently found out that a higher stall speed on the torque converter will make my 1/4 mile times rise. My problems:

What size of a torque converter fits on my 98 LS1 4l60E? From what I heard they recommend 3000 to 3300 stall, but what size?

How hard is it to change one? What all goes into it? Do I have to pull the transmission off, I'm guessing I do Is this tough though? Should I do it myself or have a mechanic do it?

Early thanks!

[Chevyracincamaro]

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/torque-converter.htm easiest way to do it. also the high stall torque converter improves times cause it allows you to launch at a higher rpm which allows for more power at the launch

[ridge_runner]

yea especially if you get an aftermarket cam, you can match up the cams to your stall

[89IROC&RS]

torque converter is a fluid coupler, two fans seperated by a strator in a fluid, on fan, connected to the engine output shaft, spins in the fluid, pushing it through the strator, wich puts pressure on the second fan, which is connected to the trans input shaft, making it spin. stall speed is the speed at which the converter will spin up to with the tires not moving. higher stall puts you in peak power, rather than lower rpms where you have to build up to peak power. this higher stall allows more power to the rear wheels for better acceleration. the downside is that this is acheived by making the converter less efficient, aka increasing the slippage on the fan blades. this causes higher crusing rpms on the highway (unless its a lockup converter) and higher trans fluid temps. making a trans cooler a must.

[ridge_runner]

yup, thats it

[ridge_runner]

oo and do you kno the normal operating temp of a trans?

[89IROC&RS]

not off the top of my head, i would say............... 160-200 degrees???????????? i only say it so someone will call me on it and hence give you your answer cuz if i didnt say anything, no one else would either lol

[ridge_runner]

haha slick

[Chevyracincamaro]

of course i could have typed out all that stuff, but i chose the route of laziness and posted the link...

[ridge_runner]

haha lazy bastard... its all good.. im a lazy ass mofo myself

[DaMoNe6969]

your tellin me about lazy.. Just readin' all that $hit tired me out... shit, i'de quit breathin' if i had the choice.. even sleep is too much work

[ridge_runner]

haha. sleep is one of my favorite things to do, if im not in bed in im workin on my car, i got fired from my job 2 weeks ago so im jus kickin back for now

[ridge_runner]

shit as a matter of fact im layin in my bed right now

[DaMoNe6969]

yeah me love sleep.. I try ta get fired all the time.. But I work for my old man so it never works..

[ridge_runner]

haha, i got fired for "harrassment" this crack head guy kept throwing water on menand sayin shit, so i threw a glass at him, and he came at me with a knife, and i get fired!!!