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locking up the converter at top of 3rd...bad or not?

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Old Aug 14, 2003 | 09:39 PM
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Default locking up the converter at top of 3rd...bad or not?

I have been told this is bad and 'you can only do it a number of times before the clutch starts to slip and then when that happens youre entire trans goes'

If i have my verter locking up at the top of 3rd is this going to hurt anything? I thought this is the way things were suposed to work.

Thanks for your help in advance.
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Old Aug 15, 2003 | 01:57 PM
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Default Re: locking up the converter at top of 3rd...bad or not?

Depending on the converter, locking it up on top of 3rd will increase your mph and slightly decrease your ET. It's pretty hard on the lock-up clutch, but not really any worse on the tranny's internals.

On a Yank Pro Thruster 4400 converter, there's not much of a benefit to locking up in third (because of very high efficiencies), but with a Vig 3600 (for example), it would give you 1-2 mph and .01-05 in ET reduction (depending on how early you lock-up).
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Old Aug 20, 2003 | 11:23 AM
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Default Re: locking up the converter at top of 3rd...bad or not?

well on the 4400 in your example. is it ok to lock it up to prevent going into 4th gear at the end of the 1/4? will the 4400 break if its locked up at the top of 3rd consistantly?
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Old Aug 20, 2003 | 12:57 PM
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Default Re: locking up the converter at top of 3rd...bad or not?

is there any universal "ideal" lockup speed for a converter in an f-bod? by ideal i mean not best et or mph, but least amount of wear on the clutches. im sire that the stall has a great deal to do with it, but nonetheless. i was always under the impression that having it lock at the stock setting (somewhere around 35-40?) was a bad idea...i bumped mine up to 50 and dont have any problems.
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