When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
How much am I missing out on with a cheap converter?
Currently I'm using an Fti 9.5" 3000-3200 stall ESR0082 torque converter. It's a cheaper new converter that was only $279 as it doesn't have anti-balooning.
Trans is a 1987 th400 (heavy duty sprag, straight cut gears, transgo shift kit).
With 255/16 et street DR. 3.73 gears and vehicle weight with me is about 3200 lbs total. Cam duration is 226/231, .605/.598 lift.
The best I've done was a 1.65 60 foot, 7.41 1/8 and 11.62 in the 1/4 @116.3mph.
Foot braking the launch at 2500 rpm gives me the best times (can't footbrake any higher as the rear tires start to break loose).
Motor is a 2005 lq4 6.0 with a btr stage 2 turbo cam (won't be going turbo for at least 2 years so spec'ing out a non turbo converter would be best for me now.)
My torque peaks at 4600 rpm and my hp at 6250 rpm.
I haven't figured out slip but when I'm in 2nd gear at 3500 rpm, stabbing the throttle puts me at 4500 rpm instantly.
With a more expensive converter like a PTC 3200 stall converter or maybe a 3500 stall, what kind of acceleration gains could be expected?
Wow it looks like I'm missing out on a lot.
Because I will be doing a small shot of nitrous in spring, I think a yank ss3600 will do me good.
So far when I shift at 6500 rpm in 1st, my recovery rpm in 2nd is about 5000 rpm with my current converter.
The "stabbing the throttle puts me at 4500 rpm instantly" makes me think the converter is either very loose or has a much higher stall than you expected.
I briefly had a 2600-2800 converter and when I hit the throttle it bogged my cam'ed engine because it did not jump past the stall speed.
Currently I'm using an Fti 9.5" 3000-3200 stall ESR0082 torque converter. It's a cheaper new converter that was only $279 as it doesn't have anti-balooning.
Trans is a 1987 th400 (heavy duty sprag, straight cut gears, transgo shift kit).
With 255/16 et street DR. 3.73 gears and vehicle weight with me is about 3200 lbs total. Cam duration is 226/231, .605/.598 lift.
The best I've done was a 1.65 60 foot, 7.41 1/8 and 11.62 in the 1/4 @116.3mph.
Foot braking the launch at 2500 rpm gives me the best times (can't footbrake any higher as the rear tires start to break loose).
Motor is a 2005 lq4 6.0 with a btr stage 2 turbo cam (won't be going turbo for at least 2 years so spec'ing out a non turbo converter would be best for me now.)
My torque peaks at 4600 rpm and my hp at 6250 rpm.
I haven't figured out slip but when I'm in 2nd gear at 3500 rpm, stabbing the throttle puts me at 4500 rpm instantly.
With a more expensive converter like a PTC 3200 stall converter or maybe a 3500 stall, what kind of acceleration gains could be expected?
You definitely need to do an converter upgrade! that converter is rated to 450HP and it sounds like you've already met or passed those limitations(note the much higher stall). Considering the future turbo plans I would like to see you move up to one of our custom built performance converters such as the SST series. This converter can be made to work with your current N/A setup and restalled later on when you boost it.
__________________ FTI COMPETITION CONVERTERS AND TRANSMISSIONS "IT'S NOT CHEATING, IT'S THE COMPETITIVE EDGE." 1-866-726-8358 info@ftiperformance.com FTIPerformance.com FTI Converter build sheet
You definitely need to do an converter upgrade! that converter is rated to 450HP and it sounds like you've already met or passed those limitations(note the much higher stall). Considering the future turbo plans I would like to see you move up to one of our custom built performance converters such as the SST series. This converter can be made to work with your current N/A setup and restalled later on when you boost it.
I'm truly impressed with the converter as 2 years ago I needed anything for the right price just to get my swap moving. So far it has treated me very good and surprised many in my area.
Yes I definitely need an upgrade and will be doing one in spring as the season is over in my area. Unfortunately the turbo plans are at a minimum 2 years away and even then I don't know when I'll do that so I'd like to spec without having the turbo idea in the cards.
However I DO plan forsure to run a 100 to wet 125 shot of nitrous next season.
I'd like something identical externally to my ESR0082 as the dual bolt pattern is extremely helpful for LS - th400 people.
What do you suggest that will let me rebound on my 6500 rpm 1st to 2nd shift to around 5200-5300 rpm but will still be able to handle small nitrous shots?
I'd love to also be able to foot brake higher than 2500 rpm but I don't know how loose it would have to be.
This is a 95% street driven car but it sees the track with drag radials....so maybe nothing as big as a 4500 stall.
I looked at my track datalogs and on average my 1st to 2nd shift (6500-6600 rpm) dropped down 1500-1560 rpm.
My 2nd to 3rd (6350 rpm) shift dropped me down 1380-1450 rpm.
I was looking at your website last night and and the SR6082 and SR7082 caught my attention as the other styles were for non th400s.
Thanks
My converter was built for my combo. They wanted to do a 4500 (which I already had from another builder) So I upped it o a 5000 High Efficiency (nitrous) converter. You can barely tell it's there until you stand on it....then all hell breaks loose.
I know every combo is different, but I get my best 60's launching at just off idle (1000-1200).
9 ½" Race/ Street
Features - Dual anti-ballooning plates (where applicable), triple bearing package, full furnace brazing, all fins are hand welded for extra reinforcement, bulletproof sprag and stator design great for bracket cars or serious street cars. Super efficient.
The "stabbing the throttle puts me at 4500 rpm instantly" makes me think the converter is either very loose or has a much higher stall than you expected.
I briefly had a 2600-2800 converter and when I hit the throttle it bogged my cam'ed engine because it did not jump past the stall speed.
It definitely got hot (205-210*F w/ a trans cooler) after a few back to back passes so it must be slipping past its expected stall. They rate it at 450 hp and with a conservative 20% driveline loss I'm definitely exceeding that with 380 rwhp through my th400.
I wish I recorded my interior on launch as then I'd see the true flash rpm. My datalogs only tell me so much as from a 2400-2500 footbraked rpm I start seeing 1 mph at 2900-3000 rpm, at 7 mph I'm at 3370 rpm and by 3700 rpm I'm at 13 mph So at least we know it's not acting like a 4000 stall that would flash to 4000 as soon as you go WOT...but I honestly don't know much about transmissions.
My converter was built for my combo. They wanted to do a 4500 (which I already had from another builder) So I upped it o a 5000 High Efficiency (nitrous) converter. You can barely tell it's there until you stand on it....then all hell breaks loose.
I know every combo is different, but I get my best 60's launching at just off idle (1000-1200).
Yeah I remember reading about different techniques with different converters but in my case even a 2000 rpm footbrake would show a much worse 60 ft than a 2500 rpm footbraked launch...all dead hooks
Looking at my actual dyno datalogs, starting at around 2500 rpm in 3rd gear (1:1), rpms appear to flash to around 3100-3200 rpm at WOT. So it appears to be doing its job as rated at lower rpm/ lower power levels but has wilder characteristics at higher rpm and power levels.
Here is a dyno sheet in case it helps for converter selection. Sorry for all these posts, I'm just giving as much info I can so the experts will have more data to base a decision from.
I'm truly impressed with the converter as 2 years ago I needed anything for the right price just to get my swap moving. So far it has treated me very good and surprised many in my area.
Yes I definitely need an upgrade and will be doing one in spring as the season is over in my area. Unfortunately the turbo plans are at a minimum 2 years away and even then I don't know when I'll do that so I'd like to spec without having the turbo idea in the cards.
However I DO plan forsure to run a 100 to wet 125 shot of nitrous next season.
I'd like something identical externally to my ESR0082 as the dual bolt pattern is extremely helpful for LS - th400 people.
What do you suggest that will let me rebound on my 6500 rpm 1st to 2nd shift to around 5200-5300 rpm but will still be able to handle small nitrous shots?
I'd love to also be able to foot brake higher than 2500 rpm but I don't know how loose it would have to be.
This is a 95% street driven car but it sees the track with drag radials....so maybe nothing as big as a 4500 stall.
I looked at my track datalogs and on average my 1st to 2nd shift (6500-6600 rpm) dropped down 1500-1560 rpm.
My 2nd to 3rd (6350 rpm) shift dropped me down 1380-1450 rpm.
I was looking at your website last night and and the SR6082 and SR7082 caught my attention as the other styles were for non th400s.
Thanks
The SR series was my original choice for your combo until we added the future Turbo plans. Both are great converter just keep in mind when you go turbocharged you will need to upgrade converters again if we go with the SR now.
Good news is regardless of which converter you pick all of our converters now come with all 3 bolt patterns (large GM, Small GM, and LS) courtesy of our new Forged billet covers!
Shoot me a PM or give me a call here at the shop we'll talk pricing and options for you and get you back rolling!
-Dalton
__________________ FTI COMPETITION CONVERTERS AND TRANSMISSIONS "IT'S NOT CHEATING, IT'S THE COMPETITIVE EDGE." 1-866-726-8358 info@ftiperformance.com FTIPerformance.com FTI Converter build sheet
10-16-2016, 03:41 AM
How much am I missing out on with a cheap converter? 
