Torn between SS3200 and SS3600
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 318
Likes: 52
From: Charleston, SC
Torn between SS3200 and SS3600 My TA is my weekend cruiser and only sees the track once or twice a year and I'm debating on the best converter for me. I'm on street tires and my only mods will be headers, exhaust, lid and suspension (SFC and LCA). I'm thinking that the SS3200 would be best from a traction stand point, but I don't want to feel like I shortchanged myself down the road. From reading around it sounds like the shift extension between the SS3200 and SS3600 is pretty significant which is a big factor. Will the SS3600 just roast the tires when I nail it from a roll from 15 to 40 MPH where the SS3200 won't? Getting low ET's isn't a priority, I just want a car that is fast and gets the power to the ground on the street. Any advice would be appreciated 
Thanks!
Adam
Thanks!
Adam
I have the SS3600 and would never consider anything smaller. Honestly, I wish I would have went with the 3800 but oh well....it drives great, like a 3200, and I have 3.23's. I would say that with any converter you will be blowing the tires off 
The 3200 with the 2.1 STR will not hit as hard as the 3600. 2.5 STR is great as long as you have atleast a drag radial like the nitto 555R. A street tire is worthless with that STR and you'll get frustrated like I did with the lack of traction. The SS3200 sounds nice for your application. Minimal track use and the occassional street light flogging. However, keep in mind that most that get below a 3500 wish they went higher. My opinion is that for a street car the TCI SSF 3500 is perfect...
Any 3000 stall converter will give enough hit to break the tires loose at a 15 mph punch.
The extra shift extension will be a big factor for a 40 mph punch if you have 3.23s since you most likely be at the bottom of second gear.
The more you like to punch from a roll, the more the shift extension matters. If you like to stoplight race and have 2.73s, the 3200 will acomplish the mission.
The extra shift extension will be a big factor for a 40 mph punch if you have 3.23s since you most likely be at the bottom of second gear.
The more you like to punch from a roll, the more the shift extension matters. If you like to stoplight race and have 2.73s, the 3200 will acomplish the mission.
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I say get the 3200 for a daily driver.
Either one will roast the STREET tires from a stop and flooring it.
Both will probably roast STREET tires from anything below 20.
Since you drive it every day, I think the 3200 would be WAY more
suitable to your needs.
Just do this.
Ask youself what is your typical driving RPM on a given day?
If you are a "just keeping up with traffic" style of driving, get the 3200.
If you are the "I must be the first one in line all the time", get the 3600.
The only other thing to factor in is as you increase HP, the stall will go up.
So it's a 3200 now, but if you get a cam, it will be higher than 3200 since
your motor is stronger.
Good luck.
Either one will roast the STREET tires from a stop and flooring it.
Both will probably roast STREET tires from anything below 20.
Since you drive it every day, I think the 3200 would be WAY more
suitable to your needs.
Just do this.
Ask youself what is your typical driving RPM on a given day?
If you are a "just keeping up with traffic" style of driving, get the 3200.
If you are the "I must be the first one in line all the time", get the 3600.
The only other thing to factor in is as you increase HP, the stall will go up.
So it's a 3200 now, but if you get a cam, it will be higher than 3200 since
your motor is stronger.
Good luck.
TECH Resident
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 862
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles, CA
get the ss3600 AT LEAST!
i have the ss4000
and i cannot WOT from a dead stop on the street,
but i can downshift WOT to 1st gear from 10mph
although you will need at least nitto drag radials and a fat friend sitting in the back. without the fat friend in the back, i can do it at around 20mph.
nose up on the street biatch!
cant do that with 3000-3200 easily
never been to the track and considering pt4200
i have the ss4000
and i cannot WOT from a dead stop on the street,
but i can downshift WOT to 1st gear from 10mph
although you will need at least nitto drag radials and a fat friend sitting in the back. without the fat friend in the back, i can do it at around 20mph.
nose up on the street biatch!
cant do that with 3000-3200 easily
never been to the track and considering pt4200
with the 3600 and my g-force kdw's I can spin them from up to a 40 punch...so either way, I would still get the 3600. It drives very well, I can get around town without going over 2000 rpm's if I want to....but if you get on it its a real kick in tha butt
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 318
Likes: 52
From: Charleston, SC
Thanks for all of the opinions guys! I ended up getting the SS3600 
I really don't hammer it much off the line so I'm not too afraid of the higher STR. I really only get into it when I'm going 40+ mph, so the shift extension was the deciding factor between the two. Now I get to use the search button again to learn about suspension components 
Big thanks to Yank and APE!
I really don't hammer it much off the line so I'm not too afraid of the higher STR. I really only get into it when I'm going 40+ mph, so the shift extension was the deciding factor between the two. Now I get to use the search button again to learn about suspension components Big thanks to Yank and APE!
I had the Yank SS3200 with a 2.75 STR I was nice. Did good at the track pulled 1.5x everytime on BFG's. Didn't change MPG Overall great. Them I went bigger cam Didn't care about Driveability, and bought a new trans that could handle the blows and heat produced with a SS4000. If you stay closer to stock you can still spray 150 and be happy with a 3200.
The 4000 pulles 14x 60' and lost 2 MPH in the 1/4.
The 4000 pulles 14x 60' and lost 2 MPH in the 1/4.
TECH Resident
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 862
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles, CA
Originally Posted by burnem
I had the Yank SS3200 with a 2.75 STR I was nice. Did good at the track pulled 1.5x everytime on BFG's. Didn't change MPG Overall great. Them I went bigger cam Didn't care about Driveability, and bought a new trans that could handle the blows and heat produced with a SS4000. If you stay closer to stock you can still spray 150 and be happy with a 3200.
The 4000 pulles 14x 60' and lost 2 MPH in the 1/4.
The 4000 pulles 14x 60' and lost 2 MPH in the 1/4.
what?
you LOST 2MPH in the 1/4 going from ss3200>ss4000?!!
how in the hell can that be???
what was the et difference?
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 647
Likes: 0
From: Australia
Its actually quite common. The higher stall you go the less efficient it is. To keep some streetability you want to maintain a 2.5STR so somethings gotta give. The best all round balanced converter is a 3000 2.0STR IMO. From there on you compromise top end efficiency for higher STR and faster ETs.
