What is it like driving a stalled auto?
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,604
Likes: 2,507
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
I agree with your disagreement...lol.
Looseness really is a perception issue; some folks will be more bothered by it than others. Personally, I've really enjoyed the experience of street driving an auto car with a well-matched, high quality higher stall speed - and not just at WOT. For years, I drove my '00 WS6 around with an SY3500 using stock 3.23s and a mild cam, this was a great street combo and part throttle was not annoying at all (had headers, ORY and a semi-loud catback.) If the converter is of low quality, then even a relatively mild stall speed increase might seem much looser and more annoying than it needs to....and the higher you go, the worse it will be. Don't cheapen out on a converter, IMO.
You won't find a one-size-fits-all answer to what is "fun", but generally most folks won't be bothered by stall speeds of around ~3500rpm or less with gear ratios of 3.23 or numerically higher. This may not be ideal for a given combo if the goal is max effort performance, but it will definitely enhance any LS1 setup over stock (and, IMO, be more fun overall.)
I am personally more bothered by super aggressive gear ratios since rpms will be constantly high at higher speed cruise. I'd much rather stick with a more conservative 3.23-3.42ish ratio while upping stall speed to improve performance. That way, after lockup, it cruises just like stock.
Looseness really is a perception issue; some folks will be more bothered by it than others. Personally, I've really enjoyed the experience of street driving an auto car with a well-matched, high quality higher stall speed - and not just at WOT. For years, I drove my '00 WS6 around with an SY3500 using stock 3.23s and a mild cam, this was a great street combo and part throttle was not annoying at all (had headers, ORY and a semi-loud catback.) If the converter is of low quality, then even a relatively mild stall speed increase might seem much looser and more annoying than it needs to....and the higher you go, the worse it will be. Don't cheapen out on a converter, IMO.
You won't find a one-size-fits-all answer to what is "fun", but generally most folks won't be bothered by stall speeds of around ~3500rpm or less with gear ratios of 3.23 or numerically higher. This may not be ideal for a given combo if the goal is max effort performance, but it will definitely enhance any LS1 setup over stock (and, IMO, be more fun overall.)
I am personally more bothered by super aggressive gear ratios since rpms will be constantly high at higher speed cruise. I'd much rather stick with a more conservative 3.23-3.42ish ratio while upping stall speed to improve performance. That way, after lockup, it cruises just like stock.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,869
Likes: 99
I agree with your disagreement...lol.
Looseness really is a perception issue; some folks will be more bothered by it than others. Personally, I've really enjoyed the experience of street driving an auto car with a well-matched, high quality higher stall speed - and not just at WOT. For years, I drove my '00 WS6 around with an SY3500 using stock 3.23s and a mild cam, this was a great street combo and part throttle was not annoying at all (had headers, ORY and a semi-loud catback.) If the converter is of low quality, then even a relatively mild stall speed increase might seem much looser and more annoying than it needs to....and the higher you go, the worse it will be. Don't cheapen out on a converter, IMO.
You won't find a one-size-fits-all answer to what is "fun", but generally most folks won't be bothered by stall speeds of around ~3500rpm or less with gear ratios of 3.23 or numerically higher. This may not be ideal for a given combo if the goal is max effort performance, but it will definitely enhance any LS1 setup over stock (and, IMO, be more fun overall.)
I am personally more bothered by super aggressive gear ratios since rpms will be constantly high at higher speed cruise. I'd much rather stick with a more conservative 3.23-3.42ish ratio while upping stall speed to improve performance. That way, after lockup, it cruises just like stock.
Looseness really is a perception issue; some folks will be more bothered by it than others. Personally, I've really enjoyed the experience of street driving an auto car with a well-matched, high quality higher stall speed - and not just at WOT. For years, I drove my '00 WS6 around with an SY3500 using stock 3.23s and a mild cam, this was a great street combo and part throttle was not annoying at all (had headers, ORY and a semi-loud catback.) If the converter is of low quality, then even a relatively mild stall speed increase might seem much looser and more annoying than it needs to....and the higher you go, the worse it will be. Don't cheapen out on a converter, IMO.
You won't find a one-size-fits-all answer to what is "fun", but generally most folks won't be bothered by stall speeds of around ~3500rpm or less with gear ratios of 3.23 or numerically higher. This may not be ideal for a given combo if the goal is max effort performance, but it will definitely enhance any LS1 setup over stock (and, IMO, be more fun overall.)
I am personally more bothered by super aggressive gear ratios since rpms will be constantly high at higher speed cruise. I'd much rather stick with a more conservative 3.23-3.42ish ratio while upping stall speed to improve performance. That way, after lockup, it cruises just like stock.
Kinda thinking now that 2.73 gears would making cruising and city driving even better. I went from 3.23 to 3.73, then back to 3.42 and now back again to 3.23
Plus gear set is little thicker for 3.23 and 2.73 then lower gears - some say less likely to break off the teeth.
Last edited by dlandsvZ28; Dec 11, 2017 at 02:48 PM.
Staging Lane
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 71
Likes: 2
I have 2.73s and a 4k stall. Its loose around town, but isn't a "quality" converter. The gears are nice for the highway that's for sure. Only time its annoying is when its locked and I'm trying to climb a hill between 50-60. No torque FTL. I am contemplating 3.42s. Just having a hard time puling the trigger. I like cruising 85 at 2k. Alot of my commute is open highway with few cops.
Here's my old 4000# Chevelle with a $300 converter w/4100-4200 stall, 3.73 gears, behind a big block 439 cubic inch engine...
Here's 3 incar videos...
Cruising around:
Dragstrip with 4.10 gears:
Dragstrip with 3.08 gears: (only a 1/2 second slower FWIW)
Best thing about a decent converter, is how quickly it accelerates/revs: Both of these were rolling and flooring it in SECOND gear, on 275/60 drag radials.
.
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Here's 3 incar videos...
Cruising around:
Dragstrip with 4.10 gears:
Dragstrip with 3.08 gears: (only a 1/2 second slower FWIW)
Best thing about a decent converter, is how quickly it accelerates/revs: Both of these were rolling and flooring it in SECOND gear, on 275/60 drag radials.
.
.
Best way I can describe it coming from a 6 speed. Uninterrupted acceleration and instant powerband. The car will feel slower than a manual as it is less jerky and something about a manual makes it feel faster.
Driving around town does not feel that different except at slow cruising you will hear and feel the slip more than a stock converter. Low rpm shifts will be softer due to the slip but they are not a problem. However, anytime you hard accelerate you will instantly jump into the powerband and accelerate much quicker than a stock converter. If you have the correct converter, you will also find that the rpms will not drop as much during the shift and you will always be at your max horsepower rpm range.
Driving around town does not feel that different except at slow cruising you will hear and feel the slip more than a stock converter. Low rpm shifts will be softer due to the slip but they are not a problem. However, anytime you hard accelerate you will instantly jump into the powerband and accelerate much quicker than a stock converter. If you have the correct converter, you will also find that the rpms will not drop as much during the shift and you will always be at your max horsepower rpm range.
It did great for 2 years, but finally had enough of the 4200 flash and 3.08 gears with 28" tall tires, on a 4180# car, and gave up the ghost, as they say...LOL.
I tried to get another, but they never responded or replied to my numerous emails. I ended up having to get the Turbo 400 freshened up since all the torque converter mush went through it...
Then, believe it or not, I bought another $300 converter. This time from Summit, called their "Nitrous Converter", which is the exact same one Jeg's sells under their "house brand" as the Jeg's XHD....
Both are made by Transmission Specialties, and it worked as well as the Freakshow, and is still in the car...so in the end, all was good...Hope that helps.
I tried to get another, but they never responded or replied to my numerous emails. I ended up having to get the Turbo 400 freshened up since all the torque converter mush went through it...
Then, believe it or not, I bought another $300 converter. This time from Summit, called their "Nitrous Converter", which is the exact same one Jeg's sells under their "house brand" as the Jeg's XHD....
Both are made by Transmission Specialties, and it worked as well as the Freakshow, and is still in the car...so in the end, all was good...Hope that helps.