joez71

I was first thinking about reusing the converter but since I have the trans out I was able to check the numbers on it. It's a 10 inch TCI 241000. I looked it up and it "advertised" as 3000.. It worked great when I had a BBC 454 with 4.56 gears (71 Chevelle SS - TH400 trans - full weight). But going twin turbo 5.3 LS with up to 18lbs of boost I'm wondering if this is a good choice. The car will be 90% street and only some strip at this point. The car has 3.73s now which I'll probably switch to 3.08-3.23s next year. A lot of people run tighter converters that the one I have. I'd hate to put this all together to in a week pull it back apart because I was trying to cheap out and reuse some parts. Is it worth running this converter or is this almost certainly a bad converter for my combo?

Let me know. Thanks!
Joe

RonSSNova

iTrader: (3)

I'd use it.

SteenH

No reason not to use it, give her a go.

joez71

How would one go about picking a tc for a turbo LS? Also, I don't think this will mate right up. I plan on an adapter but wasn't sure about the tc bolting up.

SteenH

I'm not 100% sure seeing as I got my th400 setup complete, But with the proper flex plate (i'm using a tci) you just use a standard sbc/bbc/th350/400 converter with a little adapter from the converter to make up for the gap to slide into the back of the crank.

as far as picking a converter I'd slam the 3000 in there. once you have some seat time in the car, know when the car is in the zone, and if your converter isn't right just contact a vendor they can spec you one perfect for your setup.

yenkomike

iTrader: (2)

that converter will work ok with 3.73 gears and your 5.3 it will work good at lower boost settings but if you get a 3.23 gear and start getting up there on boost im sure you will start blowing thru it and it will slip past your torque peak.

with 3.73 gears it will should be a good quick spooling converter. try it.

6669camaro

iTrader: (1)

I ran a similar tci converter on my 5.3 s475 with a powerglide, worked great on the street but since it wasn't a lock up it blew through it pretty good and probably cost me 60whp. You can send it to ptc and they can convert it to a lock up converter pretty cheap though.

joez71

Hmm. Lock up doesn't require any change to the trans, just the converter? Also, this is my first LS build. The engine is a 2013 with the stock flex plate. I know I need the spacer for the nose of the converter but will I need a different flexplate? I'm worried the tc will be the same distance away from the flexplate as the spacer thickness.

joez71

If anyone knows about the lock up stuff and if the converter will side right up to the stock flex plate. Thanks!

gsxrred1000

iTrader: (3)

Did same thing. Reused my 383 stroker converter which is a
A b&m holeshot 3600. Works great at 6-8psi but anything above it blows threw converter pretty bad. At 12psi it doesn't grab well and hits limiter almost instantly when it spools. I'd get one setup for car. Any good converter builder will ask a million ?S to get setup perfect for ur application. Hope this helps. I have th400 also in a 69 camaro 5.3 billet s476r turbo. Ran my converter all summer and was not easy on it. Only 6 psi tho. Couple small blast at 12 just for that extra 125 hp blast. Lol

joez71

I'm planning on e85 so more boost might be in my future than 12 lbs. Might not be a bad converter for the first year or two.

IronBlocked

On 3.73s it probably wont be too bad, but 3.08s are gonna load it pretty good so it might need a restall, but I'd go ahead and have some fun with it