Need advice on torque converter
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 31
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From: Chicago
Need advice on torque converter Hello I have a 1998 Firebird Formula stock and wanted to make the car pick up faster, and was thinking about buying a high performance torque converter? I'd seen a B&M torque converter HOLESHOT 3000 Series 2800-3200 RPM for $614.95, but wanted to know if thats a good torque converter and what other brands or type of converters that could I possibly consider?
I ran a Fuddle 4400 w/ 2.2str on my bolt on only LS1. It was ridiculous. I ran some Mickey Thompson ET Streets with it and 2.73 gears and wents 12s. It was by far the best mod I did to the car for the money. I had more 'seat of the pants' pickup in speed than when I installed my headers, LS6 intake, lid and open cutout at the same time.
However, 4400 might be to big for you. My car was my daily driver, but my idea of a daily driver is a lot different than some. I think, however, if you are going to spend the time/money to put on a stall converter I would not go ANY less than 3500 w/ 2.2str. 2800-3000 stall will not be enough in my opinion. You could go 3800 and still be comfortable.
As far as brands, I had a Fuddle. Much more inexpensive than some of the other brands out there, but some people had issues with them. However, I did not experience any. If you don't mind spending some more money, you cannot go wrong with a Yank converter. Precision Industries' Vigilante converters are decent from what I hear as well.
However, 4400 might be to big for you. My car was my daily driver, but my idea of a daily driver is a lot different than some. I think, however, if you are going to spend the time/money to put on a stall converter I would not go ANY less than 3500 w/ 2.2str. 2800-3000 stall will not be enough in my opinion. You could go 3800 and still be comfortable.
As far as brands, I had a Fuddle. Much more inexpensive than some of the other brands out there, but some people had issues with them. However, I did not experience any. If you don't mind spending some more money, you cannot go wrong with a Yank converter. Precision Industries' Vigilante converters are decent from what I hear as well.
I make an 11" 28-3000 stall, LS1Tech special $350. It will wake the car up without breaking the bank. If you have bigger plans for the car and want to step up to the next level, I offer a race version for $700. I has a custom billet front cover and billet piston, made to race!
Call or PM me if you have any questions
Chris
Call or PM me if you have any questions
Chris
TECH Regular
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 418
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From: Cypress, TX
Hello I have a 1998 Firebird Formula stock and wanted to make the car pick up faster, and was thinking about buying a high performance torque converter? I'd seen a B&M torque converter HOLESHOT 3000 Series 2800-3200 RPM for $614.95, but wanted to know if thats a good torque converter and what other brands or type of converters that could I possibly consider?
You can do much better by channeling your money to improve the breathing on both ends of the engine. Add a CAI and headers. Have the heads worked on next and add a cam kit.
Yes, in the future, you will need to look at having your tranny built and adding a higher stall converter, but not with a stock engine.
One thing I failed to mention ... B&M converters are not worth the money. If you have to have a converter, go with a Yank or Vig.
Last edited by caldercay; Feb 9, 2008 at 10:45 PM.
A higher-stall TC will not get you anywhere with a stock car.
You can do much better by channeling your money to improve the breathing on both ends of the engine. Add a CAI and headers. Have the heads worked on next and add a cam kit.
Yes, in the future, you will need to look at having your tranny built and adding a higher stall converter, but not with a stock engine.
One thing I failed to mention ... B&M converters are not worth the money. If you have to have a converter, go with a Yank or Vig.
You can do much better by channeling your money to improve the breathing on both ends of the engine. Add a CAI and headers. Have the heads worked on next and add a cam kit.
Yes, in the future, you will need to look at having your tranny built and adding a higher stall converter, but not with a stock engine.
One thing I failed to mention ... B&M converters are not worth the money. If you have to have a converter, go with a Yank or Vig.
I bet 10,000 cash that a stock car with a lid, longtube headers will have its *** handed to it by a Stock car with a 3600+ converter and Drag Raidals
Having a Nice Heads and Cam Package installed with the stock converter would be equivalent to having a pair of ***** and no dick, whats the point if you can't use it?
I'm guessing 60-75% or more of the members of this board have high converters on factory built transmissions. As long as you install a tranny cooler they are FINE on a stock transmission...
You were correct on B&M conveters they are complete garbage...
Forueight
I'll make this VERY easy for you,
Spend the 600-700 on a new Vigilante or Yank
My personal suggestion
3200-3600 Vig or Yank PT/SS 4000
Add a 60$ B&M 24,000 GVW Cooler enjoy your new 1.6X 60"
Do it once do it right
I'll make this VERY easy for you,
Spend the 600-700 on a new Vigilante or Yank
My personal suggestion
3200-3600 Vig or Yank PT/SS 4000
Add a 60$ B&M 24,000 GVW Cooler enjoy your new 1.6X 60"
Do it once do it right
+1 for the win
My vig 3200 is great, it drives like stock until you hammer the gas, I bought the car with it already on if I did it again for an N/A car I'd get atleast a vig 3600 minimum but would probably end up getting a 3800-4000
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A converter is the single best mod for an A4 car period. Even if it was bone stock, it'll still make a drastic improvement at the track and on the street. I've always run Yanks and never had any issues. The PT series is pretty loose, but it's also the baddest converter Yank makes IMO. If you're not going max effort, I'd stick with a SS series. The SS3600 is very popular for street/strip cars. Some opt to step up to the SS4000 which is still a great daily driver converter. I had one and liked it a lot. 4000 seems like a big converter, but the SS4000 will fool you into thinking you have a much smaller one due to it's tightness. It launched HARD and had a shift extension of ~5200 with stock shift points.
: 
Teching In
Joined: May 2007
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If you're going to keep it stock or only go as far as bolt-ons, I suggest Yank SS3200. I have a stock 02 WS6 and put one in. It's more tame in in-town traffic than stock but night and day different when you step on it! Nice throttle response. I plan to upgrade my MAF, Throttle Body, & Intake Man. next. But I love my Yank!!! While you have the trany off the engine, you might want to put a SFI approved Flexplate in so you won't have to mess with cracking it open again later (only 10 extra min. of work). It's a good measure to beef it up just in case you want to add extra horsepower to the engine later...You definitely don't want to snap a flexplate!!! I have a Meziere Billet Flexplate in mine.
One good thing about Yank is that you can call them and they will assist you in which one is right for you depending on your application. I did that and it's pretty spot-on with what I wanted to accomplish! Here's the link to Yank:
www.converter.cc
One good thing about Yank is that you can call them and they will assist you in which one is right for you depending on your application. I did that and it's pretty spot-on with what I wanted to accomplish! Here's the link to Yank:
www.converter.cc
Last edited by ThebigEW; Feb 17, 2008 at 06:40 PM.
I did all the standard bolt ons first before the TC. Car got into high 12's with headers, lid, yada, yada. Cam and Stall took it to 12.2. If I had to do it all over again I would have made the TC one of the very first mods I would have done with some Nittos or MT/ET's. I have run a Fuddle 3400 and now run a yank 3600SS with a new engine tranny combo that is absolutly wicked and love it. ***dont forget the tranny cooler no matter what tranny you are runnin as heat is your trannys nightmare****
