Infamous

I am doing an LS1/A4 into a 1968 Camaro and I have a goal of getting the car done by September 1st of next year. I've looked through my budget of things I still need to buy and some stuff I am thinking I will have to cross off the list. One I'm thinking of is the torque convertor. My ultimate goal is to run a Twist Machine paddle shifter on this car with their new Pro-Torque convertor but we're looking at approx. $1100 in parts for that system. I know I won't be able to do that. Then I thought, maybe I'll buy a cheap convertor off of eBay with a stall speed around 3000-3200 and just use that until I can afford the Twist Machine stuff later. Then I thought...hell, if I'm just going to junk the convertor later in favor the Pro-Torque model, why don't I just get by with the stock covertor for now and not waste my money on the eBay one. For reference this car has 3.73 gears, stock bottem end LS1, TR224/114, LS6 Intake, Stage II heads, LT headers, Bo White TB. Do you think the stock convertor will be fine for about a year before I can afford the Twist Machine stuff? Please vote to help me to decide. Thanks.

LSWon00

iTrader: (3)

The car may pull through the brakes on the cam with a stock converter. However after making the mistake of once buying a used converter because it was cheaper I'd STRONGLY advise against it. If you have the money to do the setup that you wrote down I'd suggest maybe looking a fuddle or TCI thats still rather affordable in the mean time. For about $500 +/- $100 you can get a converter thats affordable and will make your car enjoyable to drive while your waiting for the TM setup. The stall speed and and STR should be set to the cam and other mods that are done to the car. I would contact the manufacturer of the converter and get their advice on what to buy. Just DON'T waist the money on a cheap converter.

Strahley

iTrader: (4)

Do it once, do it right. Don't settle for something like that, because dropping the trans just to replace something you already bought sucks!

5_02ls1

iTrader: (20)

well im assuming your talkin about the acc boss hog converters on ebay......they are awseome we just put the 3200 in my buddies truck its very streetable and will footbreak to 2700 and flashes rite at 3200....there rated to handle 800hp.....i emailed the store sellin them and they gave me the owner of acc's cell #they really stand behind thereproduct........if your talkin about one of the trailblaser verters on ebay dont do it they are a 12" verter just like whats in it now.......

LSWon00

iTrader: (3)

What's the percentage of slip in that converter you're talking about?

Infamous

You're going to have to explain what that means. What does "pulling through the brakes on the cam" mean?

$500 is not going to work for my budget, even if that is considered cheap. The convertors I was looking at on eBay went for around $250. I can swing that right now but if the stock covertor will be fine then I'm wondering if it's even worth buying the eBay one.

I guess what I'm asking is....how much am I gonna hate life with the stock convertor for the first year?

93redBIRDman

iTrader: (9)

keep it stock until you can get a GOOD converter that will actually DO something, like Vigi, or Yank

jam99

Yea dude, just go with a vig or a yank. I speak from experience. I had a TCI and it was cool for a while but i just wanted something cheap. It still cost me $900 to get it and have it installed. Now I have a vig 3800 and it is one of the best mods i've done yet. I love it. It is worth the investment so judt do it right the first time.

5_02ls1

iTrader: (20)

the acc converters are around 400 the 250 dollar one is a trailblazer converter....its not much better than stock......

and i wasnt aware that tci was a cheap verter....I dont see a yank or pi doin any better than my tci.........

5_02ls1

iTrader: (20)

It means when the car is tuned for the cam the stock verter is gonna be too tight and the idle rpms will be raised to the point where you will be standin on the brakes to keep the car still....if that makes any sense...

burnzilla

iTrader: (3)

I can't believe people even consider buying converters that cheap.
Its a major change to your drivetrain and has a great effect on your transmission and drivetrain life.

Do it right the first time with a Vigilante or Yank.
My buddy has an 01 T/A with a Yank 3600, and that cars moves out hard.

5_02ls1

iTrader: (20)

my ssf tci moves out hard as well but its not a cheap converter..........

Infamous

Oh I wasn't saying they were, I had just mentioned the cheap alternatives on ebay and when you mentioned TCI I thought you were insinuating that they were one of the cheap ones. My bad.

I don't even think I'll be able to afford the tune on my car in that timeframe. Will it not be driveable if I don't tune it with those mods and the stock convertor or will the car just not be at it's full potential but will still be driveable? I'm assuming if I hold off tuning the car that I won't have to stand on my breaks at idle. So far of the 17 that voted 15 say to just run the stock convertor for now. I know that doing it right the first time is the ideal course to take, but I don't think that will be possible. We'll see as I get closer. Still got a ton of stuff to buy.

69chvelle

iTrader: (11)

I put a 3600 vigilante in my camaro, and that was one of the best mods I've ever done. It gives you at least as many tenths as they advertise and the customer service is top notch. I would save my money and buy one of these. They can be had from one of the site sponsors for around $700. Just my $.02

kokingSS

iTrader: (2)

do it right the first time, no bs

Infamous

What are you're thoughts on Fuddle Convertors?

85Iroc

iTrader: (12)

If 15 out of 17 voted to run the stock verter for now, what more advice do you need??

*edit* make that 17 out of 19

Oh, and the boss hog converters are pure junk.

COD02SS

I was e-mailed by them the other day. They look interesting and i think i'm going to go with them when i get a 3200 stall.

Zcleanest28

With the cam you'll pull through the brakes most likely, but thats why you have neutral!! 4l60e's are not the greatest tranny in the world so putting a cheap converter on it isn't a good bet. Your idle speed will probably need to be adjusted anyways. Save your money, get another tranny cooler and a yank or vig.