Kenny H

Car is an '02 Z28, plans are to make it a full bolt-on, cam-only car. Race weight will be in the 3450-3500 range, 3.23s. Car will not be a daily driver but I do want to be able to drive the car when I want to. With either of these convertors I don't see that being a problem as both will lock up on the highway.

I expect to go with a cam in the 224 range, probably Thunders tried and true 224 cam or something similiar that will warrant ~6500 RPM shift points. I believe RPMs tear apart the 4L60E and don't want to shift above 6600 or so.

I will be retaining the 10 bolt and the suspension will be mostly stock hence I am ruling out the Vig 3600 which gets most of its ET in the 60 foot while sacrificing some efficiency up top in comparison to the Yanks.

I'm willing to trade some drivability of the Yank SS series for the performance of the Pro Thruster. This leaves me two choices, a 4000PT or 4400PT.

I'm leaning towards the 4000PT simply because it should be more drivable but would I be giving up significant performance? Both convertors spec out equally except the 4000PT has a 2.2 STR and the 4400PT has a 2.5 STR.

Keep in mind the car will have a stock suspension so I won't be looking to cut 1.50 short times. I will probably run a hoosier or MT drag radial on the car full time so I do hope it will lay down 1.6x short times.

How would you guys compare them?

Thanks!!

eric01ss

iTrader: (13)

get a yank pt 4000 with the 2.5 str and get a bigger cam man

99Hawk262

iTrader: (19)

I run the PT4400 with a TR230/224 cam and it's a great combo. The 4400 is loose with the 3.23's, but I DD the car and it's certainly liveable. I had the SS4000 before and the PT is superior in every aspect except city driving. In my experience, the PT4400 launches every bit as hard as the SS4000 while having much more topend. With the SS4000 I slightly pulled (1 car) a buddy's bolt-on 6-speed TA up to ~130. With the PT4400 I pulled the same TA by 4 cars to 135 and it was getting worse for him the faster we went.

As for track performance, check out the video in my sig. That's full weight, 3/4's tank of gas, 17" MT ET Streets and Bilstein suspension (hardly ideal for drag racing). I think with better gears, I could whittle that short time down even more. I believe the car has more ET in it with more seat time and a little prep (weight reduction, !front swaybar), but it'll be a few months before I make it back to the track.

I know this doesn't recommend one over the other for you, but it'll give you an idea about what to expect with the 4400. The 4000 is probably very similar but not quite as loose and a little less shift extension. My shift points are set at 6500 and shift extension is 5800-5900 RPM.s. It's a beast from any speed (breaks street tires loose with ease at 40 MPH and occasionally at 50 MPH) and sure to put a smile on your face!

MattIROC

iTrader: (19)

99Hawk, how is your gas mileage with the 4400 stall? Not too worried about gas mileage, was just curious how it does. Do you do a equal mix of city/hwy with it? I had the PT4000 on my list, after reading how the 4400 pulls, maybe you can give me your input, or a comparison of the 4000 vs the 4400 gas mileage in city and/or hwy.

99Hawk262

iTrader: (19)

I do majority city driving and I average 180 miles per tank. Highway is as good as ever with the converter locked. I did the PT4400 about 1000 miles after the cam swap, so I don't really remember what my gas mileage was before. I don't believe it changed all that much between the SS4000 and the PT4400. The PT is definitely looser though. I really don't know what to advise you between the 4000 and the 4400. I'm sure the 4000 is just as much fun while being slightly tighter. You'll love the PT series, whichever one you decide on.

MattIROC

iTrader: (19)

I probably wont get to the stall this year, but next year looks more promising. I will end up with the x1 cam also next year. For this year, it will just be LT's, full exhaust, and a ls6 intake. So, cam only car, daily driven. The 4400 would be real fun, but the 4000 might be enough since its a dd, and I do a decent amount of driving (trying to lower it some).

Top Fuel

iTrader: (8)

Not a daily driver, thats a no brainer PT4400

99Hawk262

iTrader: (19)

4000 will still work well for you. Good luck and hurry up and get it. Single best mod for an A4 hands down!

gillbot

iTrader: (27)

+1, i wish i woulda went higher than my pt4000.

Kenny H

Generally speaking the higher the STR the less efficient the convertor is. Thats also another reason I was leaning towards the PT 4000 w/ 2.2 STR vs the 4400 2.5.

Is the different completely neglible? On a smallish cam I'm also wondering if the shift extension on the 4400 is a bit higher than I want. I'll certainly need to match the cam to the convertor....

james562

iTrader: (35)

Do you ever EVER plan on nitrous for the car? If so go with the PT4000 if you will remain strickly NA then PT4400 ALL THE WAY. I believe for the same price Yank can make a PT4200 if you want to split the difference...

City mileage will drop anytime your below 40MPH above 40 it locks and hovers right around 1400-1600rpm

I just got my 3600 vig back from the shop and its awesome but as always I wish it was a 4000+ converter

don't be a pansy go big or go home....

Top Fuel

iTrader: (8)

You can talk yourself outta it all you want. The fact is for an NA stock cubes application, the 4400 is the better converter no matter what cam you slap in there.

cals400ex

iTrader: (27)

is the 4400 just better from the launch? say he threw a midsize cam in there. what would do better from a 40mph roll to 120 or so? i would think the 4000 with the lower str. that is just a guess though...

Top Fuel

iTrader: (8)

I'm still putting my money on the 4400. the difference in multiplication drop off isnt that much between a 2.5 and 2.2. Too bad Yank still didnt offer the SY4000, that would be the best converter for the "from a roll" crowd. Or you can get an A3 and get a stall like mine that would destroy any 4l60e converter from a roll

james562

iTrader: (35)

The 4400 is better NA on even a stock car... As you add a cam that will require more RPMs than stock the demand only rises

Kenny H

I'm looking for something that will ET well but will make that ET on the big end and not need to 60 ft quite as well. My main reason for that is I'm not going to set the suspension up to cut low 1.5 short times and I'd like to stay with a 10 bolt. I'm fearful the larger 4400 will just translate into wheel spin on a stock suspended car, less efficiency up top, and a bit less drivability. If you guys think the 4400 will MPH just as well and the higher shift extension will help, than I will go that route.

And yes I'm sure a TH350 w/ 4600 stall would be nasty but I'm not willing to trade that much drivability. I just sold a 569 rwhp Mustang for that exact reason and don't want to go down that road again.

Top Fuel

iTrader: (8)

The 4400 will out mph the 4000 because its higher stall/shift extension will put you in a better band to create more average hp that will overcome the earlier multiplication drop off. Which as I said before isnt that big of a difference to begin with.

That being said, Both of these converters hit hard and you seem really concerned about having traction issues. once you spin, it doesnt matter what converter you have mulitiplication is done. And if you're not willing to compromise with a little suspension, traction might be a hit and miss for you. I'm not sure how good your local tracks are at prep. So neither of these converters might be right for you. Yank is a great choice though, so I would call Yank first a see what they say. Maybe he will be willing to make one of the old Super Yank 4000's for you or something totally custom. If not, Then I'll say that pretty much none of the higher stall off the shelf big name 4l60e converters will work for your app; yank, vig, or tci. I had a Fuddle 4000/1.7 in my car for a little bit when I had a 4l60e. It wasnt my cup of tea because I have full suspension and like hard hitting converters, but I'll say this it rolled on the top end and I never had a problem hooking. Also Performabuilt offers low str ratings, you might want to check them out. I have no personal experience with them so I cant comment any further on that. ATI is starting to get into the 4l60e game, maybe they'll have something that works for ya. I'm going to get off my soap box now. I'm not trying to rant at ya, just trying to help. I've had 7 converters for my car so far in many different levels of modification so I'm just trying to pass along my personal experience. I know how it is to be sitting there weighing everything out trying to make the absolute best decision.

Steve

tording99Z28

iTrader: (3)

What would a PT4000 or PT4400 be like in a car with a stock cam temporarily? I am looking to do a converter but want one that will perform with a aftermarket cam as well as without. I have not done a cam yet but will be doing probably a 224 series cam before too long. I was going to go with a SS series Yank but after reading this thread you guys have be thinking about a PT series.

cals400ex

iTrader: (27)

there is no way i would get a SS for what i want. if i can't cut better than 1.7's i do not care one bit. i really dont' care if i can cut those times really. the stickiest tires i will ever put on my car are 17" nittos. i care more about how my car runs from 30mph to 125 than i do right out of the hole. i still want a little more from 0-30 but that isn't my main concern for a street car. if the shift extensions will outweigh the efficiency, i would consider the larger stall. i am just not convinced it will...


i think the gearing will play a pretty big role too, from what i hear anyways. i will never go with more than 3.73's and i currently run the stock 3.23's.

Top Fuel

iTrader: (8)

then neither of these converters will work for you. You have to get on the phone and start calling sponsors up and just state that you are mostly concerned about efficiency. A 4400 with a 1.7 str would be deadly for your app and wouldnt over power the nittos excessively. the biggest con, the converter will be extremely loose.