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What is it like driving a stalled auto?

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Old Nov 26, 2017 | 04:50 PM
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Default What is it like driving a stalled auto?

When just cruising around, does it feel like the transmission is slipping - like you press the gas and the motor revs but there's a delay before the car accelerates, or does it accelerate quicker due to less resistance since the converter isn't fully locked up? Also on a 3800 stall - would the converter "ever" lock up while driving on the highway or cruising at a constant speed since the motor would technically never reach 3800 RPMS while cruising?

I know one of the points in stalling is it allows you to launch from a higher RPM thus getting into your powerband much easier from a dig.. but does it help anything from a roll or while cruising?
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Old Nov 26, 2017 | 06:40 PM
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It's a little bit weird and a little hard to explain how it feels. It's not like it's slipping, more like it revs more freely, then the power comes on hard. Almost like a turbo car.

They help from a roll too, very similar to rear end gears. Coming from driving nothing but stick cars, I was confused about it as well.
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Old Nov 26, 2017 | 06:51 PM
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Converters absolutely help with more than just the launch.
They also help shift extensions. For example my car.... I run the PT 4000, I shift at 7000 rpms, after each shift the rpms only drop to about 6100 rpms.
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Old Nov 26, 2017 | 06:55 PM
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Originally Posted by 98CayenneT/A
Converters absolutely help with more than just the launch.
They also help shift extensions. For example my car.... I run the PT 4000, I shift at 7000 rpms, after each shift the rpms only drop to about 6100 rpms.
Dang thats high.. so basically even after shifting you're always in the bulk of your powerband, but it also sounds like you've done some things to the valvetrain, internals to handle shifting at 7k RPMS...

...If I got a 3800 stall right now, but later decided to build my motor, heads, cam, possibly even S/C -- or lets say that I went with ported heads / valvetrain upgrades and ran a LSA cam or a cam with street manners (almost stockish) and S/C'd, would I need to worry about changing the stall for a different stall? if so would you recommend keeping a stock converter in there until I do the motor work?

Last edited by Need4Camaro; Nov 26, 2017 at 07:01 PM.
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Old Nov 26, 2017 | 07:02 PM
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Also you can tune the converter to lock up whenever you want. Mine is set to lock up in 4th only above 50 mph at less than 40% throttle. The converter will lock below its stall speed
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Old Nov 26, 2017 | 07:08 PM
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It's like warm apple pie.
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Old Nov 26, 2017 | 07:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

...If I got a 3800 stall right now, but later decided to build my motor, heads, cam, possibly even S/C -- or lets say that I went with ported heads / valvetrain upgrades and ran a LSA cam or a cam with street manners (almost stockish) and S/C'd, would I need to worry about changing the stall for a different stall? if so would you recommend keeping a stock converter in there until I do the motor work?
Depends on if you're doing the work yourself or having someone else install the converter.

N/A vs boost converters are different. If you don't mind the work put a N/A converter in there and when you're going to boost it pull it out and have it restalled.
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Old Nov 27, 2017 | 01:35 AM
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I always say that the converter is the heart of the automatic car. I wouldn't have gone with an auto in my build without a proper 9.5" lockup converter.





It makes or breaks the entire combo in my opinion.
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Old Nov 27, 2017 | 02:47 AM
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I haven’t had one in 6 years but it did feel like it was slipping then it wouldn’t grab and rev pretty quick. Really hard to explain and I also think it depends on the converter. I ran a Yank SS3600 with a Futral Motorsports F11 until I stroked it and went with a bigger cam spec’d for nitrous.
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Old Nov 27, 2017 | 04:48 AM
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I have had some off the shelf, one size fits all converters over the years and they did feel like they were reving too much when just cruising...which I always thought that's just the way it was....2500-3000 just getting up to speed from a light or stop sign.

Then went to a custom built unit, and what a difference. I can barely tell its in there.
Have a 5000 stall 9.5" dual anti-balloon plates which was built for a little shot of giggle gas, so its a little tight NA. 500rpm drop running NA (haven't hit the button.... yet)

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Old Nov 27, 2017 | 11:55 AM
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I ask for the tightest, lowest stall 9.5" possible, which is usually around 2800rpm. For a stock engine, its perfect. And we all know 600rwhp is possible on stock engine, so...
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Old Nov 27, 2017 | 12:57 PM
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Don't be afraid of a 3800 converter from a good manufacturer. I have a 4000 FTI behind a bone stock engine and 2.73 gears. I have no problem driving it on the street. It drives very much like my old 2800 converter but when you hit the gas there's a big difference. Plus, if/when you go to a heads/cam set up you already have a high stall or can have it restalled.
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Old Nov 27, 2017 | 01:09 PM
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I had a mercury marauder with a 3000 RPM stall with 4.10's and a tune. That big *** boat would surprise the hell out of you. Compared to a stock one as others have said it did feel a little "loose" on the street but was not a pain at all to drive.
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Old Nov 27, 2017 | 09:04 PM
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I have a yank ss3600 and to be honest I don't even notice I have a converter in the car. I have 3.73 gears though. I'm an old time hot rodder and remember having a 3600 converter back in the day. Those you could definitely feel the low speed slippage.
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Old Nov 28, 2017 | 08:00 AM
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Old Nov 28, 2017 | 09:18 PM
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Checked the video's, thats interesting, at light throttle seems like it takes more revs / time to get up to speed but when you nail it - it's the exact opposite, the speedometer is literally almost thrown out of the cluster...
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Old Nov 29, 2017 | 12:35 AM
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Best way i could explain it is, it doesn't "feel" like its slipping but it does sound / appear like it. What i mean is you can feel full engagement in the trans but the car is revving higher than normal and looks/ feels like it should be going faster - at part throttle. Kinda like driving with open headers, in my opinion anyways. Full throttle = big smiles. Hope i helped and explained it a little.......
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Old Nov 29, 2017 | 01:46 AM
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Originally Posted by kingtal0n
I ask for the tightest, lowest stall 9.5" possible, which is usually around 2800rpm. For a stock engine, its perfect. And we all know 600rwhp is possible on stock engine, so...

600rwhp on a stock motor? would love to know how that's possible.


Also, choosing a 2800 stall converter when your peak power is at 4000rpm (for example) is a futile exercise I would have thought.
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Old Nov 29, 2017 | 12:01 PM
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Originally Posted by TheNutDriver
600rwhp on a stock motor? would love to know how that's possible.


Also, choosing a 2800 stall converter when your peak power is at 4000rpm (for example) is a futile exercise I would have thought.
Pretty Easily actually...heads, cam, intake and 100-200 shot of nitrous... all depending on set up obviously.

I made 602rwhp and 596 rwtq through 4l60e precision 3500 stall, dana 60 rear. Stock lq4 6.0 with ported 243's 228/232 cam and fast 92/92 with a 150 shot.


OR

TONS of guys make 600+rwhp with boost on stock bottom end.
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Old Nov 29, 2017 | 12:49 PM
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Originally Posted by allblackedout5
Pretty Easily actually...heads, cam, intake and 100-200 shot of nitrous... all depending on set up obviously.

I made 602rwhp and 596 rwtq through 4l60e precision 3500 stall, dana 60 rear. Stock lq4 6.0 with ported 243's 228/232 cam and fast 92/92 with a 150 shot.


OR

TONS of guys make 600+rwhp with boost on stock bottom end.
Thats not stock though! Stock bottom end - yes, but not a "stock" motor!!!
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