I've had a few posts here recently about Yank converters and C5s. I'm pretty much a die hard Yank user on my F-bodies and when a friend with a 04 C5 wanted help with picking a converter, I was steering him towards a SS3800. He finally gets a hold of Mike at Yank and he recommends a SS3200? The car has a LS6 cam, FLP headers, will be getting AFR heads as soon as someone has them in stock, and will be getting 3.42 gears at the same time the converter is installed. What do you think of that selection? Seems kind of low, but aparently, it's a C5 thing.

 

Mike's recommendation was based on the info he was given. I'd surmise that he was told that radial tires would be used and that streetability was very important. You can't take advantage of more converter without traction. An SS3800 will be extremely tough to grab a full throttle launch even on a well prepped track with drag radials in a C5 (which are a bit harder to hook than F-bodys.) The 3200 will be more forgiving of limited traction. Also, in general, C5 owners aren't quite as tolerant of loose converters as F-body pilots.

 

as said above, Mike probably not aware of future mods....however the Y3200 with 2+ str is a good street converter...also very popular are the Y3600 and Y3800 with 2.3 str. they all need 3:42 or even 3:73 gears.

 

C5 CU, why do you say that they "need" 3.42 or 3.73 gears?

 

Mike was told about all current and future mods. My friend drove my 99 with a ST3500 and really liked the way it felt, especially the shift extension and the pull when it only down shifted to 2nd, not first. I think any converter other than maybe a SY will blow street tires off a car in 1st. I still think he needs to go with at least the SS3600 and probably the SS3800.

 

Jayson at MTI recommeded the SS3200 for my C5 also. It is real good converter with good drivability. Not too much for a daily driver but takes better advantage of power than stock. I have H/C/I headers as well. I haven't bought it yet but I'm planning too. I was think of keeping the 3.15 gear though.

 

street driving a Y3600 or Y3800 hooked to 3:15s gears can be a little "loose" the 3:42s or 3:73 tighten up the "feel" ... also matching HP to gears and converter should be considered ....

I have seen (heard) a C5 with 3:15s and 3800 converter and on flat ground, it could not creep in gear and would rev to near 2000rpm before moving from stop. Owner was frustrated and put 3:73s in and driving manners significantly improved...saw similar situation with a person who had 2:73 gears matched to a 3000 Vigilante...properly matching gears and converter does make a difference.

If staying with 3200 and 3:15s make sure the str is above 2.0...

 

SS converters are supposed to feel tighter than the STs, aren't they? The 3.42s are already purchased and here. He told Mike to build the SS3200. I just think he is going to want more and changing converters on a C5 is not cheap.

 

C5 CU, what feels loose to one feels too tight to another. I thought you meant that the converter "needed" the extra gearing to perform well when in fact, you'll see only small gains in performance with extra gearing when a good converter is used. But I understand what you mean about drivability...however, I probably wouldn't say the converter needs the gearing since that is actually a preference, rather than functionality issue.

It's been my experience that extra gearing really doesn't make that much difference in tightening the feel of a converter. It helps, just not that much. I've had 9 different converters in 3 different cars with gearing all the way from 2.73s to 4.10s and I've formed this opinion... If the converter is just on the other side of borderline in terms of drivability, then going from 3.15s to 3.73s may barely bring it back to this side of acceptable.

FWIW, I have an SS4000 with 3.23 gears in my daily driver Z28. Not bad at all for everyday driving, IMO, especially with the part throttle shift points and converter lockup points dialed in a bit.

I have a 10" TCI SF converter (true stalls to 3300 in my car) in my C5 with 3.15 gears. It was just installed yesterday and this much I can tell you already. If I hadn't driven a C5 before, I might not even notice that it has an aftermarket converter. Almost stock feeling in general neighborhood type low throttle position driving with much improved shift extension at WOT (was 3400 on the 1-2 shift before and is now 4500. At mid throttle or above you definitely know something's up but it's still VERY nice to say the least. It lacks some of the punch of the SSF 3500 I used to have in my Z28 but it's certainly light years ahead of the stock converter!

When in doubt, go with MORE converter than you think you need. Most people tend to get used to 'em real quick.

 

My friend committed to buying the 3.42s on the advise of a local speed shop before talking to me about them. When I explained what he would be gaining vs what they are costing him, ($1200 for just the parts) he wished he would not have got them. Unfortunately, the parts were already ordered and he was committed to buying them. The car currently has 3.15 gears.

 

The gears aren't going to hurt him, but I do understand the dollar for gain equation as well...

 

i love my 3.42s, but i started with 2.73's...i also only paid $500 for my rear diff. off of ebay!

 

If they are not intstalled, maybe he can opt to sell them before install and then buy th sizes he really wants.

I am on the top extreme I think with a Vigilante 4400 and 4.10 gears. I get plenty of creep and street drivalbily is fine by my account, (except of course if I floor it)