Best time to lock the converter?
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Joined: Nov 2001
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Best time to lock the converter? Iam gonna get my PCM custom tuned. Iam not sure which time/gear is best to lock the converter. I've heared that under WOT it is best to lock the converter in 3rd & during normal driving the converter should lock at ~40mph. Can anyone confirm this? Also is there any reason for why these settings are the best? I have 3.73 gears & SuperYank 3500 converter.
Thanks
<small>[ April 05, 2002, 05:40 AM: Message edited by: xxxhp ]</small>
Thanks
<small>[ April 05, 2002, 05:40 AM: Message edited by: xxxhp ]</small>
Re: Best time to lock the converter? It is a personal preference and will depend upon your cam.
Some people like to leave the car in 3rd around town and lock it up at 25 mph because it gets rid of looseness. this is ok with a stock cam or a small afermarket cam.
I have a 226 cam and prefer lock-up around 35 - 40 mph. First it avoids cam surge, and second it allows the motor to spin up if I get on it. In 4th gear I use 40 mph.
Locking up at WOT is hard on the converter and will not provide a lot of gain with the SY 3500. If you lock-up, I would wait untill you hit at least 110 mph, and maybe as high as 115 mph assuming a stock cam. For an aftermarket cam, 115 - 125 would be the range, depending on where peak HP is.
Some people like to leave the car in 3rd around town and lock it up at 25 mph because it gets rid of looseness. this is ok with a stock cam or a small afermarket cam.
I have a 226 cam and prefer lock-up around 35 - 40 mph. First it avoids cam surge, and second it allows the motor to spin up if I get on it. In 4th gear I use 40 mph.
Locking up at WOT is hard on the converter and will not provide a lot of gain with the SY 3500. If you lock-up, I would wait untill you hit at least 110 mph, and maybe as high as 115 mph assuming a stock cam. For an aftermarket cam, 115 - 125 would be the range, depending on where peak HP is.
Re: Best time to lock the converter? Mine is locking up around 45mph and it's good. Too low and the car will buck... I think I could handle 40mph but I'll try it since I have a manual lock up switch in my car.
At WOT that would be a different story, I'm not sure what is best.
At WOT that would be a different story, I'm not sure what is best.
Re: Best time to lock the converter? TA, I've been in some cars when the converter is locking up to early like 30mph and the car bucks, shudders because it's too low.
The converter should lock up under WOT, I'm not sure what mph it locks at stock, but I think with my tranny we were gonna lock it at 95mph. I don't remember for sure.
The converter should lock up under WOT, I'm not sure what mph it locks at stock, but I think with my tranny we were gonna lock it at 95mph. I don't remember for sure.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 387
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From: Casselberry, FL.
Re: Best time to lock the converter? PSJ, my car is shuddering with the converter locking at 40 in 4th. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" />
Nobody I have spoke to seems to have ever had this problem. Ragtop99 seems to think my IAC might be to high. I don't see how this would cause this shuddering I am feeling.
Jim
Nobody I have spoke to seems to have ever had this problem. Ragtop99 seems to think my IAC might be to high. I don't see how this would cause this shuddering I am feeling.
Jim
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 387
Likes: 0
From: Casselberry, FL.
Re: Best time to lock the converter? John, when you say buck what do you mean? I have been experiencing a shuddering effect around 40-45 mph when I am not on the gas. Is this what you are talking about? I was thinking of having Ed raise my lock-up mph to around 45-48 range?
Later
Jim
Later
Jim
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