I just put the converter in the car on saturday, and the car is running great. I notice one thing. Those of you that have this converter you know how when you are on the gas more than a little but not near WOT and the engine is running maybe 2700-4000, trans in 4th gear and then the converter locks up at somewhere between 45-60 mph. This obviously causes the engine to drop quite a bit in engine speed. Well, when this happens, right when the converter starts locking up, I hear a squealing sound that sounds exactly like the accessory belt squealing on the water pump. The converter always locks up silky smooth like, but right when it starts locking up you will hear this squealing sound. If you are not on the gas enough to cause the engine to be running in the above range, the noise is not there when the converter locks up. The transmission is full of fluid. I am trying to get ahold of mike at yank right now. I don't know how the converter could make a squealing noise when it locks up. As I said, the noise sounds exactly like a squealing belt, but it's not the belt. I really need some input on this one. Help me out please.


Thanks,
Jordan

 

Does it continue to squeal after lock-up or just during the lock-up process?

What mods have you done and have you done any tuning?

 

It only squeals at the very beginning of the lock-up process for probably a quarter of a second. Mods are MTI S2 heads/cam, headers, exhaust all bolt ons, etc.

As far as tuning goes I have increased the shift points, increased the line pressure for WOT shifts. I have made some small changes to the timing at some points and changed the idle speeds.

For the life of me I can't figure out what would make this noise. It only happens when you're in the gas pretty good, I suppose I could reprogram it to prevent converter lock-up, it the higher range of the part throttle positions.

 

Here's an update. I was able to get in touch with Mike at Yank and explain the situation to him. He said that the sound is just the new converter clutch breaking in and it should go away in a couple of hundred miles or so. He said the squealing noise is pretty normal and also mentioned to me that it is a lot easier on the converter clutch if you kinda lay off the gas when you get that feeling that the converter is about to lock up which makes sense.

Has anyone else ever heard thier new converter clutch squealing when it starts to lock up when it was new?

Later,
Jordan

 

Hey Jorday, how does your car act with that converter and 3.23s if you still have em. If so keep me posted on track times and 60fts please. Jason

 

If you are pretty far into the throttle, I would program around it. The YTP clutches seem to like a little more line pressure then is supplied at lock-up.

 

I absolutely love this converter. If I could do it again, I would order the exact same one. I will say that it's pretty loose, but it doesn't bother me at all. I can't really say how it compares to other converters because my car is the only LS1 car with an aftermarket converter I have ever been in, but I hear it's pretty loose compared to most anything out there. I've found that it works well to use Drive in any driving situation where I will be going less than say 50 mph. This causes the converter to lock up in 3rd gear by 30 mph. Then I just get on the gas with the converter locked up and finish accelerating to whatever the speed limit is and shift to OD if necessary. Around town I just leave it in Drive all the time. I will post the 60 ft times, the ET streets are on thier way to my house as we speak, so it shouldn't be long now. When you drop the hammer, this converter is bad ***. I still can't believe how the car hauls *** now. Shift extention is around 5600-5700 rpm range.

Ragtop,

I probably will do a bit of programming to help the situation a bit.


I have a couple of questions for you. I see you mod list includes new injectors. My mod list is very similar to yours, do you think my 02 injectors will need to be replaced as well?

Being a self-tuning man myself I was wondering how much timing are you able to run on your car. I was still getting a touch of spark knock at 27 deg.

Your website says Pro Thruster 4200 Extreme converter. What's the difference between that and my converter, or is there a difference? I thought the Extreme converters were supposed to be for power adder cars or something.

What kind of roll bar is that, or is it custom? Does it have a removable sidebar on the driver side? How much was it?

Thanks man,
Jordan

 

The Extreme is slightly larger and is six lug converter. It's designed for Power Added setups.

 

Jorday – I have an YTP 4000 and have no squealing sounds when the converter locks up. I do not think that your squealing sound is “normal”. I would give it a little break in time and if it does not stop I would call Yank back.

I do like these converters. Drivability is not that bad and performance is great. I went from a Vig 3200 to this converter and dropped my ¼ ET by almost 2 tenths.


John

 

Jorday:

The fuel injectors on an '02 are bigger than 99's so you probably are fine. I shift at 6800 and wanted the extra cushion.

I run 30* timing although I haven't measured any benefit over 28*.

Pretty much all YTP's were built to the Extreme specs; I do have the 6 bolt mount.

Rollbar is custom. The driver's door is removable.

 

Thanks for the info. Reason I asked about the injectors is that a buddy of mine with a 2000 car was starting to run out of injector with a much smaller heads/cam package than yours. I wasn't sure if the 02 injectors were big enough or not. I need to do some ATAP on the car later tonight.

Later
Jordan