Drag Racing Tech - Crapy time's at the track.

Z28 Camaro, Mods are 410 cubic inch 6.0 Motor with stage 3 heads 242/246 114LSA cam, LT's and all bolton's except fast 90mmTH and intake. (On order)
Turbo 400 with brake.
Ran a SLOW ASS 7.85@ 92 MPH tonight in the 1/8 mile.
Current converter is a 3200 stall and over 3 years old.
Peak power is at 6400 but makes good power until 7000 RPM's 440 peak

I also have a TA that has a 3600 stall in the 4L60E with stage 1 heads and a 224/226 cam. Same bolton's. Run's 7.4 at 91 in the 1/8 mile with a 1.54 60 ft time. Make a whopping 360 on the same dyno on the same day using the same tuner.
80 Horse less/90 ft lbs of torque less TA is 300 lbs heavier and run's 4 tenths faster in the 1/8 mile. Both cars running full slicks and the same gear ratio.
NO SPINAGE, Dead Hookage.

So I narrowed it down to a POS converter.
Decited I need a new converter. Where should I shoot if staying NA?
I know a BUNCH about converter's and am kinda figuring a 4400 or 4600 stall.
I drive the car about 40 miles a month on the street when it's dark and someone wants to play read my tag.
Other than that it chills at the track.
Anyone have anyother suggestion's?

BTW to those who haven't realized what the right converter can do for a automatic car you have just learned.

How fast do you think I will now go with the new converter? I am guessing 7.0's.

whats the DA difference and 60' difference between the two runs? i would look to the convertor and then look to see if there was any issues with knock retard. if you ran down here in south florida, well, the air just plain sucks!

A couple of things I learned in reading on converters (since my swap from M6 to TH400).

CONVERTER is everything.
The right converter will get you out of the hole, improving your 60's.

What was your 60' on the Z? I'll bet it wasn't as good as the TA.

What I have been told, is that you want your converter at your peak RWTQ.

Another bet: your TA's stall is closer to its peak TQ than your Z. Right?

Stall the Z up !!!! Look at your peak TQ. Good chance you can go to a 4800 or 5000 stall - since you don't drive it on the street much anyway. Shit, with a 4800, I'll bet you see 6.9 - if track and suspension/tires are good. In good are air, god only knows what you get.

Good Luck

David

be careful not to overconvertor it though. A friend of mine ran a 4500 stall 10" JW "stocker" style convertor and it hit hard but was edgy on hooking with 1.47-1.49 60 foots on a high 10.90 car with 28 x 10 slicks. He swapped to a 3800 stall from the car company, and the car picked up a little mph, lost about .05 et in a 1/4 and .02 on the 60 foot. Definately want to find out where the engine combo you're running is happy, then consult with a convertor company before buying.

Good luck!

Derek

be careful not to overconvertor it though. A friend of mine ran a 4500 stall 10" JW "stocker" style convertor and it hit hard but was edgy on hooking with 1.47-1.49 60 foots on a high 10.90 car with 28 x 10 slicks. He swapped to a 3800 stall from the car company, and the car picked up a little mph, lost about .05 et in a 1/4 and .02 on the 60 foot. Definately want to find out where the engine combo you're running is happy, then consult with a convertor company before buying.

Good luck!

Derek





Couldn't agree more.
There are many converters and you have to get lucky sometimes in picking the correct one for each car.
I have started to think that a 4200 might even be a good stall to be at.
I was thinking bigger but my mind cant quite figure it out.

Fear the LS1 run's a 5000 stall and run's 10.30's all motor with a 347 cubic inch motor.
Go figure. I thought that was too big but he is solid roller so that might be a reason why.

A couple of things I learned in reading on converters (since my swap from M6 to TH400).

CONVERTER is everything.
The right converter will get you out of the hole, improving your 60's.

What was your 60' on the Z? I'll bet it wasn't as good as the TA.

What I have been told, is that you want your converter at your peak RWTQ.

Another bet: your TA's stall is closer to its peak TQ than your Z. Right?

Stall the Z up !!!! Look at your peak TQ. Good chance you can go to a 4800 or 5000 stall - since you don't drive it on the street much anyway. Shit, with a 4800, I'll bet you see 6.9 - if track and suspension/tires are good. In good are air, god only knows what you get.

Good Luck

David

Yep the 60 in the TA was a 1.545 and the Z28 a 1.85. Da was close enough not to make much of a difference, and it was cooler on the track for the passes in the Z then it was for the TA.

I am hoping for at least a 7.1 60 ft in the currect weather with the new verter. That is only 3 tenths of a second faster than the TA and again I am 200 lbs lighter, bigger converter, trans brake, 80 Horse power, and 90 more ft lbs of torque. I think it sould be easy but will have to wait and see.
Anyways thanks for the reply's so far and if anyone else has anyother suggestion's please let me kow.
JZ'sTA&Z28

i would NOT chose a convertor based on your peak RWTQ number. take a look at all the fast ls1 cars. they are all designed around teh shift extension. if bolton ls1 cars were to buiild their convertor around the peak rwtq - why are the tp4400 cars the fastest?

i would look to the stall to tq ratio, shift extension, and efficiency in the convertor. also you didnt mention what the stall brand is.

your big cam has the small stall and the small cam has the big stall. probably why your small cam car is faster.

also one more thing about peak rwtq - it is way too difficult to truely figure out where the peak tq is without having it on an engine dyno or locking the convertor up (not going to happen with a TH400). what you are seeing is tq multiplication on a chasis dyno anyways.

Both converter's are Yank converter's.
The one in the TA being the PRO YANK 3600 EXTREME (258mm, Posi Lock-Up Clutch w/Kevlar Linings, 6 bolt mounting lugs, lightweight billet cover, 3600 stall, 2.30 STR)
The converter in the Camaro is a Yank??????????? Had the converter for 2 years in the car before I bought the car. On the trans vrake it stall right to 3100-3200 RPM's.
I also disagree with making a converter the same stall as you peak torque.
The idea sounds good but but just dosen't seem to be the correct way to go.
Has anyone heard of Coan or Neil Chance?
I think Yank builds a awsome converter for the 4L60E cars but I am sure that since the T-400 has been around forever there are more companies that build solid converters for them.

responded in the tranny section. yes, NC convertors are amazing. i would run nothing but his custom units in a TH-400 tranny.

Thanks again gator.