Hi all! I’m new to this forum and have poking around somewhat.

At the moment, I’m trying to figure out what torque converter to run in my truck.

5.3 (stock) swapped S10
‘92 4L60
3.08 gears
245/60R15
Truck in total probably weighs about 3000lbs

Right now I believe it has a 1400-1600stall converter in it since that’s what we had sitting around with the transmission. With that low of stall and my rear gearing, it’s a bit of a dog off the line so I’m thinking of jumping up to a 2200-2400 ish converter. What would y’all recommend? It’s mainly a cruiser right now. Someday I’d like to do autox but just want a nice driver

 

I would go no lower than a 3200-3600 stall converter, with my preference being a 4000 stall. With a quality converter at that weight 2400 is way too low of a stall speed.

 

I don’t have any experience with a stall that high, this is really my first go with hot rodding anything to be honest with ya. I always thought something that high would be a lot less streetable, which is my main priority. I do plan on going to a 3.42 or 3.73 in the future as well which will make a difference.

Sorry, just trying to wrap my head around something I have no experience with 😂

 

With a 3.42 or 3.73 gear a Yank 3200 or 3600 will be very streetable in a 3100lb vehicle. This is a $1000 converter though, but they do not feel loose with street driving like a cheap converter will.

 

what do you reckon will be the influence on cruising rpm (lets say 70 mph, 4. gear) of a yank 3600?

btw, that truck is 3000 lbs?

 

dont fear the stall or gears they are your friend. go no less than a 3600 for a fun street brawler. and dont go cheap either, you get what you pay for in this area. the old saying is being cheap is expensive (cause youll end up doing it twice) and dont forget a big tranny cooler cause bigger stall will produce more heat. and a stall alone will not hurt cruising rpm cause the lock up will still function so same truck low stall vs same truck 4000 stall = same cruise speed at 70mph........ now gears is a diffrent story. if that truck was mine id do a quick performance 9in rear with a 3.55 /3.70 / 3.89 gear whatever locker/limited slip you prefer and a quality 3600 to 4200 stall big tranny cooler then turn my attention to a nice cam package. itd be a really fun street truck like that. just my .3 cents worth nice truck by the way.

 

Cruising rpm will be the same as a stock converter at 70 mph, because the lock-up clutch in the converter will be applied if everything is working correctly.

 

Yeah 3000lbs roughly. I had to take a load to the dump once in it with myself, my dad, half a tank of fuel, and a light load of garbage and it barely tipped the scale to 3100lbs. That was pre engine swap though.

 

I think it’s just my inexperience that’s making me shy away from a torque converter with that high of a stall. I don’t want to try it and regret going that high cause it feels too loose in regular driving. Everything I have read so far says you get what you for for sure, so I’ve been researching companies that have a good converter to work with. I do plan on changing gears back to that 3.42-3.73 range to help pick it up in the low end again. I do have plans to do some engine work later as well, I’m just in a situation right now switching transmissions so I’m trying to figure that stuff out some now so I don’t do it twice 😂

And thanks! It use to be my grandpas truck until I got my hands on it and did a restoration on it. After that it served as my high school truck and then I engine swapped it after I graduated. It’s been pretty fun and turns a lot of heads. People ask if I want to sell it all the time.

 

Thanks I will keep this in mind! I’ve been looking at some TCI converters too. Little cheaper but seem to have good reviews still

 

i was of course talking about rpm without lockup. if its 2000 @ 70 mph with stock converter, what might it be with a yank 3600?

 

What difference does it make 2000 rpm at 70mph both converter clutches should be locked up. That's why GM built the converter with a clutch inside.

 

I 1st bought a 3000 TCI converter and in less than 2 months the converter exploded inside. Called TCI to ask about a warranty and I was more or less told to pound sand. By the way that 3000 stall TCI converter was looser than my 4000 stall Yank converter.
You could not pay me to use TCI products.

 

With 3.08 gears and a 383 stroker LT-1 in a 4400 lb impala ss I run a 2800 stall, I am pretty happy with it very street able and turns the tires loose at will from standstill up to about 35 mph .
Tire size p275/40/r17

 

Call FTI or Circle D tell them about your setup and see what they recommend.

I got a Circle D 258mm pro billet 3400 stall in my car and love it. I also run 3.25 gears

 

4400 wot shift extensions


4400 mellow driving rpms without converter locking up

 

thats very helpfull, thanks.

second vid is 1-2-3 gears w/o lockup? the coverter stays around 2150 rpm under very light throttle? what do you figure it would lock up to? 2000 rpm?

and in first vid it looses 600 rpm during the shift? 1-2? hillarious. i have never driven a car like that.

what converter is it? what size?

 

It would lock up a lot lower than 2000 rpms and would buck a bit and drive like trash at those rpms locked up with my setup.

I do not have the converter locking until above 55 mph in 4th gear only.

I have a 98 pcm which are slower than the other years so my tack /mph are behind/delayed a bit at wot. I shift at 7300 rpms. My shift extensions are closer to 900 - 1000 rpms

 

thanks. it great if you can keep the engine in its power band. i have to read up on how that actually works.

 

Couple house window fans pointed at each other with the blades at different angles along with some other magical stuff lol