Converter Question Daily Street Driver?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Chandler, AZ
Converter Question Daily Street Driver? I've never drag raced (at a track) and right or wrong don't really seem too interested in doing it. Would I benefit from replacing my torque converter to a higher stall? What kind of change would I get for just spirited street driving? Is it worth paying for? I'd be willing to spent up to 500 if I thought it would be good for my usage. TIA
99 T/A A4 Lid, Loudmouth, 3.23
99 T/A A4 Lid, Loudmouth, 3.23
Re: Converter Question Daily Street Driver? i plan on driving a 3500 stall everyday and ive driven a 3800 with 3.73's and it was fine for daily driving. the difference in performance is worth any streetability loss IMO. its a totally different car, so responsive, no dead spots. my converter (tci 3500) was 554 shipped to my door with a 24k gvw trans cooler. youll NEED a trans cooler if you get a stall unless you want to buy a new transmission. a shift kit (about 100 bucks) is a good idea too because a big converter makes the transmission shift kinda sloppy or so ive heard. local shop quoted me 400 bucks for the install and trans service, fluid change etc. so in total if you plan on doing this id expect to pay about 1000 dollars for everything, more if the converter is more expensive. tci's are cheaply priced though <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
if i didnt drive it everyday a pt4400 or tci4400 would be my first choice. a big converter is really the first mod an a4 should have.
<small>[ March 16, 2003, 10:45 AM: Message edited by: hondakiller ]</small>
if i didnt drive it everyday a pt4400 or tci4400 would be my first choice. a big converter is really the first mod an a4 should have.
<small>[ March 16, 2003, 10:45 AM: Message edited by: hondakiller ]</small>
TECH Regular
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 453
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From: phx,az
Re: Converter Question Daily Street Driver? I have a 98 A4 t/a with 3.73"s and a precision industries vigalante 2800 stall , daily driven and you hardly notice . It makes launches better street or strip. The nice thing about P.I. is that if you"re not happy with the stall speed , they will change it once for free . I,m going to go with a 32 or 3600 , the next time the tranny is out.
Ive seen them for like $ 400 new in the parts for sale thread. I have a friend who says that his 3600 was the single biggest mod hes done , he gained .8 tenths at the track.
Hope this helps. bdawg <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />
Ive seen them for like $ 400 new in the parts for sale thread. I have a friend who says that his 3600 was the single biggest mod hes done , he gained .8 tenths at the track.
Hope this helps. bdawg <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />
*Bad Trader*
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: here and there
Re: Converter Question Daily Street Driver? </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I don't think you can get a good converter for under $600.00 </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">sure you can MidWest TQ converters are 475-550 shipped BRAND NEW. i have a 3600MW on a daily driver and its awsome.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Chandler, AZ
Re: Converter Question Daily Street Driver? Thanks for all the input! I guess my lack of experience on the matter (I've never even been IN a car with an other than stock 'verter, let alone own one myself) just doesn't give me anything to base what they do on. I've never felt it. Like I said, not really interested in organized drag racing, but would be interested in anything to help me with my hate of the A4, specifically the 2-3 upshift lag woes, and the damn computer kickdown that send me hanging my rear out. Since I don't care 1 iota about org. drag or consistency, I really wish I had a M6 car.
Re: Converter Question Daily Street Driver? I bought a TCI converter (3000 RPM nominal
stall speed) for under $500 from Texas Speed
& Performance. I went lower than most on stall
because I don't intend to drag it much, can't
stay hooked up on street tires now, and liked
the compromise between efficiency and stall/
STR. I just wanted to get out of that "bog".
We'll see how much my install runs me. You can
get lower stall types like the SLP 2600 or a
TCI 2800 for under 400 bucks I think. These
don't pack as big a "kick" but are cheap
(relatively speaking) options. You have a
pretty broad range to choose from, the tough
part is finding one that represents your
specific "best fit" (and, in not changing your
mind and wishing you'd gone bigger, once you
find out what the effect is).
You can make a big difference in the auto
shift behavior with programming. The Predator
cleaned up my unit's wimpy behavior right
nicely, so will LS1Edit.
stall speed) for under $500 from Texas Speed
& Performance. I went lower than most on stall
because I don't intend to drag it much, can't
stay hooked up on street tires now, and liked
the compromise between efficiency and stall/
STR. I just wanted to get out of that "bog".
We'll see how much my install runs me. You can
get lower stall types like the SLP 2600 or a
TCI 2800 for under 400 bucks I think. These
don't pack as big a "kick" but are cheap
(relatively speaking) options. You have a
pretty broad range to choose from, the tough
part is finding one that represents your
specific "best fit" (and, in not changing your
mind and wishing you'd gone bigger, once you
find out what the effect is).
You can make a big difference in the auto
shift behavior with programming. The Predator
cleaned up my unit's wimpy behavior right
nicely, so will LS1Edit.
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TECH Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
From: Evansville, IN
Re: Converter Question Daily Street Driver? I have the yank 3000 in mine and it works fine as a daily driver.
I would expect them to charge you for 5-6 hours for install time so probably around 300-400 dollars.
I would expect them to charge you for 5-6 hours for install time so probably around 300-400 dollars.
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Re: Converter Question Daily Street Driver? I'm not a master mechanic, but I put a converter in my '94 twice (broke the first one). It takes about half a day, but is NOT complicated. If you are a "wrench novice" get an experienced friend to lend a hand.
Make sure you slip the converter ALL THE WAY against the splines. Also, a trans cooler is then necessary and you may even want to get a TCI deep pan if your car is not lowered. I have both on mine and my Mike Kurtz-built tranny has lasted about 300 passes so far.
My converter is rated 2500-2800 stall, but I can only flash it to about 2600 due to lack of monster torque. Doesn't matter as traction is often a problem even with that stall speed.
As far as drivability, it does feel a little "lazy" just pedaling around town when I'm below stall speed, but it sure does make for a good hole shot at the track.
Make sure you slip the converter ALL THE WAY against the splines. Also, a trans cooler is then necessary and you may even want to get a TCI deep pan if your car is not lowered. I have both on mine and my Mike Kurtz-built tranny has lasted about 300 passes so far.
My converter is rated 2500-2800 stall, but I can only flash it to about 2600 due to lack of monster torque. Doesn't matter as traction is often a problem even with that stall speed.
As far as drivability, it does feel a little "lazy" just pedaling around town when I'm below stall speed, but it sure does make for a good hole shot at the track.
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Bethel, CT
Re: Converter Question Daily Street Driver? I started out with Yank Super Thruster with a 3000 stall and 2.2 STR. Now have a Yank SS3600. Shift extension was 42-4300 with the ST3000 and 47-4800 with the SS3600.
With 3.23s, there are NO drivability issues with either one.. Doesn't feel sloppy or like the trans is slipping. Generally, the higher the STR, the tighter it feels.. You can 'blip' the gas without accelerating, and it does take a little more gas pedal from a stop. The big advantage is the 'bog' ellimination. Floor it stock from 40-45 and your car is a pig. Won't downshift, just lugs until the rpms come up. Same thing at the 1-2 shift; stock, it would bark the tires and lug until the rpms came up.
A converter willl elliminate the 'bog'- you'll go right to the shift extension the converter delivers and it screams. So with a SS3600, the rpms only drop to 47-4800 at the 1-2 shift or go right to 47-4800 when you floor it at 40 mph. HUGE improvement over stock.
Just a LOT more fun to drive.
With 3.23s, there are NO drivability issues with either one.. Doesn't feel sloppy or like the trans is slipping. Generally, the higher the STR, the tighter it feels.. You can 'blip' the gas without accelerating, and it does take a little more gas pedal from a stop. The big advantage is the 'bog' ellimination. Floor it stock from 40-45 and your car is a pig. Won't downshift, just lugs until the rpms come up. Same thing at the 1-2 shift; stock, it would bark the tires and lug until the rpms came up.
A converter willl elliminate the 'bog'- you'll go right to the shift extension the converter delivers and it screams. So with a SS3600, the rpms only drop to 47-4800 at the 1-2 shift or go right to 47-4800 when you floor it at 40 mph. HUGE improvement over stock.
Just a LOT more fun to drive.
Stall converter I heard that the torque converter has little effect on actual gas mileage and actually improves shifting smoothness.matched up with a B&M shift kit, it makes the tranny alot smoother. Don't forget the external tranny cooler though, unless you want your tranny to blow.
Gabe
Gabe
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 9,246
Likes: 3
From: Troy, AL
A higher stalling converter has NO effect on highway mileage (as the converter, whether stock or not, is locked up during highway cruising so the RPMs are the same.) Around town it will suck up a little more go-juice depending on how heavy your foot is.
I run the Yank SY3500 & 323 gears.
I have approx. 5K on the Yank & 142K on the car.
This was by far the "BEST" mod i have done for my car.
i have no lag @ any part of the powerband. I still get 24mpg & i can pull a Z06 w/ no problem from the line & that is on street tires.
Add DR's to the equasion & you have a street/strip monster.
I too have the tranny cooler & tran's temp guage. Hwy driving it never gets past 150-160 deg.
You will fall in love with your car all over again!!
I have a friend that is selling a brand new Yank SY3500 still in box w/ 2yr warranty. New is $895.00 think he is selling his for around $650.00??? PM me if interested.
Oh, & i got mine installed for $160.00....... I have friends...
I have approx. 5K on the Yank & 142K on the car.
This was by far the "BEST" mod i have done for my car.
i have no lag @ any part of the powerband. I still get 24mpg & i can pull a Z06 w/ no problem from the line & that is on street tires.
Add DR's to the equasion & you have a street/strip monster.
I too have the tranny cooler & tran's temp guage. Hwy driving it never gets past 150-160 deg.
You will fall in love with your car all over again!!
I have a friend that is selling a brand new Yank SY3500 still in box w/ 2yr warranty. New is $895.00 think he is selling his for around $650.00??? PM me if interested.
Oh, & i got mine installed for $160.00....... I have friends...
