:g ay:
Choosing a torque converter
Choosing a torque converter I have a 1986 regal with a 5.3 and a mild cam. There seems to be hundreds of choices for upgrading my 4l60e converter and I'm having trouble picking out the best one.
Car has a 3.42 gear, 335whp, 345tq and I don't drive it often so it doesn't have to have great street manners. It's just a car I like to play around in.
I'll be putting a bigger better engine in eventually but will likely end up going with a different tranny at that point so I'd like to stick with something relatively inexpensive.
Any advice would be appreciated
Car has a 3.42 gear, 335whp, 345tq and I don't drive it often so it doesn't have to have great street manners. It's just a car I like to play around in.
I'll be putting a bigger better engine in eventually but will likely end up going with a different tranny at that point so I'd like to stick with something relatively inexpensive.
Any advice would be appreciated
I have the Circle d 3200 stall (400$ shipped) and I love it great street manners not very loose. But I have to say I see what everyone means when they say you should go big from the start I do wish I would have went with the 3600 or 4000 stall.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
Spoke to you Monday via email Brian. Thanks again for the fast response. The converter we discussed was more expensive than I can really afford at the moment but I've heard nothing but good things about you guys' products.
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 24,241
Likes: 89
From: Turnin' Wrenches Infractions: 005
Yep! Im him. The guy you love to hate. But bc I'm truly lighthearted in nature I thought the smileys would lighten the mood from the disgusting advice you gave. I literally wanna bash my face against my phone screen when I read posts like yours. Not only was it bad advice it wasnt even what he was asking. So yeah, youre that guy, but for me.
since a mod hasn't stepped in i will. red if you didnt agree with ryan you should have given reasons why, not bashed him. true or false a 2800 stall is better than a stock stall? i get most people here like the 3600 but thats not for everybody!
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 24,241
Likes: 89
From: Turnin' Wrenches Infractions: 005
I dunno what you think there is to "step in" about, or what that even means. I read and comprehended what the OP was asking and gave a reasonable answer. When you come in with BS, someone might say something. I realize everyone has their own opinions. I dont expect my grandmother to like a 3600 stall converter. But, she aint here asking for advice is she? Seriously, consider that for its truth. I have been around so many combos that I give advice with experience. I will not cite each and every example every time I post here. Thats one of the reasons we have join dates and post counts, so you can somewhat assess who you are getting advice from, and how long they been in this game. At the end of the day, I didn't call him a punk bitch I merely disagreed, somewhat maturely. If disagreeing and you require moderator intervention, then maybe the internet isnt for you? I dunno.
Red can come off abrasive at times but he definitely knows what he's talking about and doesn't steer people in the wrong way from my experience. I think he's even called me out once and it made me think about what I posted lol
I see nothing he put needing step in. Ryan called him "that guy" so he typed up a retort.
Anyways Op I would hit up Circle D
At the end of the day I wouldn't waste my time on a 2800 stall let alone a 3600 personally if I was into performance. the stock Fbody stall is 1700 and a 2800 would be unnoticeable jump. Not that he has an Fbody stock converter preset but using as reference.
I had a SS3600 and got it because many said a 4000+ was too much for the street. I regretted it after a few days. I now have a Circle D 2e 4200 stall. Good luck
I see nothing he put needing step in. Ryan called him "that guy" so he typed up a retort.
Anyways Op I would hit up Circle D
At the end of the day I wouldn't waste my time on a 2800 stall let alone a 3600 personally if I was into performance. the stock Fbody stall is 1700 and a 2800 would be unnoticeable jump. Not that he has an Fbody stock converter preset but using as reference.
I had a SS3600 and got it because many said a 4000+ was too much for the street. I regretted it after a few days. I now have a Circle D 2e 4200 stall. Good luck
Moderator
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 7,323
Likes: 529
From: Ann Arbor, MI
Glad everyone is keeping it civil -just a little bit of poking.
I prefer modest stall speeds because I like very civil street driving. While a 2800 stall would be a modest improvement for a completely stock engine, considering the expense of buying it and effort of installing it, it really doesn't make sense unless you are already replacing the trans and what a near-stock converter. And after adding some bolt-ons and definitely after adding a cam, you will want a higher stall. So, even I would suggest a 3200 for very civil street driving, and a 3600 might be preferred. Just stay away from the cheap 3600 TCI as that was annoyingly loose on the street.
No one here has ever posted that they bought a quality converter and it wasn't worth it.
However, there are zillions of posts by people saying that after they bought a quality converter that they regretted having wasted money on a cheap converter.
If you can't afford a quality converter now, save your money until you can.
I prefer modest stall speeds because I like very civil street driving. While a 2800 stall would be a modest improvement for a completely stock engine, considering the expense of buying it and effort of installing it, it really doesn't make sense unless you are already replacing the trans and what a near-stock converter. And after adding some bolt-ons and definitely after adding a cam, you will want a higher stall. So, even I would suggest a 3200 for very civil street driving, and a 3600 might be preferred. Just stay away from the cheap 3600 TCI as that was annoyingly loose on the street.
No one here has ever posted that they bought a quality converter and it wasn't worth it.
However, there are zillions of posts by people saying that after they bought a quality converter that they regretted having wasted money on a cheap converter.
If you can't afford a quality converter now, save your money until you can.
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 24,241
Likes: 89
From: Turnin' Wrenches Infractions: 005
Wanna know the truth? My first converter was an Edge Racing. Andre at Edge almost talked me into a 2800-3000, but I convinced him I might want bigger so we settled on 3200. It was a little on the loose side and I was happy with it......for about 2 months. I ended up keeping it quite a bit longer, eventually switching to a Yank 4k which is a tad on the tighter side. Guess what? They dont drive much different from each other at part throttle....I regretted my decision to go with edge, and to let him talk me down to a 3200. My error then is my good advice now. Ive been behind some real basic 5.3 combos and with the right converter they can be a real pleasure to goof around in.
Last edited by 01ssreda4; Aug 11, 2015 at 09:43 PM.