CAM or Gears?
Since you have 273's, Do the gears and a mail order tune 1st . That cam with 273's and a stock stall would not be very fun to drive 
A stall converter will give you a bigger ET reduction than the gears ,but the gears are a step in the right direction .
A stall converter will give you a bigger ET reduction than the gears ,but the gears are a step in the right direction . Well if you change the cam you gunna need the right gear and stall to get that cam really working plus a tune, then you have to worry about the 10 bolt breaking eventually, just my .2
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What size stall should I get with 2.73 and eventually 3.42 to 3.73?
Launching!
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From: Indianpolis, IN
Not to be a dick, but you need to do some reading on this site before you buy anymore parts.
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Or I could ask questions like I am doing now.
I have searched the site and I had it narrowed down, but I will tell you in all of my searching I saw a lot of cam recommendations but I never would have equated a cam with gear ratios. I have done research on all of my parts, I got deals on them and I weighed the pro's and cons, and in all of the parts I have bought I regret nothing. I am actually excited about looking into a stall converter now. These guys seem like they know there stuff. So if they are willing to help me I appreciate it.
I have searched the site and I had it narrowed down, but I will tell you in all of my searching I saw a lot of cam recommendations but I never would have equated a cam with gear ratios. I have done research on all of my parts, I got deals on them and I weighed the pro's and cons, and in all of the parts I have bought I regret nothing. I am actually excited about looking into a stall converter now. These guys seem like they know there stuff. So if they are willing to help me I appreciate it.
Last edited by Zaxz28; Feb 12, 2010 at 05:30 PM.
. Now I have a Yank 4000SS sitting on my tool box ,ready to go .Then Im putting a mid- sized cam in it . Ive seen relatively stock F-bodys (stock exhaust and all )with a 3600 -4000 rpm converter going mid 12's with a killer 60ft ! If your doing a cam soon , look into a 4000 rpm stall , if not, a 3600 will work great . Check with our sponsors on which converter is right for you . Thread Starter
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YES !!! A stall on a LS1 is the biggest improvement you can do to an automatic .Going from 273's to 373' will net @ .2-.3 tenths . Going from a stock converter to a 3600 -4000 rpm will net .5 -.9 tenths (traction permitting ),maybe more . I did 373s on my 98 Z and Im happy with them . It made it more fun . I hated the 273's . Now I have a Yank 4000SS sitting on my tool box ,ready to go .Then Im putting a mid- sized cam in it . Ive seen relatively stock F-bodys (stock exhaust and all )with a 3600 -4000 rpm converter going mid 12's with a killer 60ft ! If your doing a cam soon , look into a 4000 rpm stall , if not, a 3600 will work great . Check with our sponsors on which converter is right for you .
. Now I have a Yank 4000SS sitting on my tool box ,ready to go .Then Im putting a mid- sized cam in it . Ive seen relatively stock F-bodys (stock exhaust and all )with a 3600 -4000 rpm converter going mid 12's with a killer 60ft ! If your doing a cam soon , look into a 4000 rpm stall , if not, a 3600 will work great . Check with our sponsors on which converter is right for you .Thank you everybody I appreciate the help. You guys are the reason why these forums work.
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If you were to do the stall first, which requires no tuning and extra charges, then later do the cam and gears at the same time and have the cam tune and speedo/shift points programmed you will save one tuning charge. I would add a tranny cooler no matter what if you live in Arizona. Heat and abuse are tranny killers. While I drive a manual now, i have previously owned an auto that I put a higher stall converter in and it made it a completely different animal.
You might need a tune with a converter . The PCM will think the trans is slipping bad and put your car in "limp home " mode or cause a surge in your idle . Some need a tune ,some dont .
Spend some time researching stalls in the auto trans section here, there is a lot of good info there. Also, it really helped me to ride in someones car that had a stall. I was confused and worried about how the stall would be. Riding convinced me I wanted one. I went with about a 3000 stall for my first one because I still wasn't completely sure. That was a mistake, it was too small and I have a 4000 now and love it.
You mentioned you like to cruise on the highway, the 3.73s will make your RPM higher and MPG lower. The stall will lockup and drive just like your stock converter (except when you punch it, then
)
I have installed I think a 3500 stall in a car with 2.73s and it really helped. 2.73s are not good for getting into the engine's powerband, the stall will jump you up there. Yes, it will feel a little loose when you first do it with those gears, but you'll get used to it fast and it really isn't that bad.
You mentioned you like to cruise on the highway, the 3.73s will make your RPM higher and MPG lower. The stall will lockup and drive just like your stock converter (except when you punch it, then
)I have installed I think a 3500 stall in a car with 2.73s and it really helped. 2.73s are not good for getting into the engine's powerband, the stall will jump you up there. Yes, it will feel a little loose when you first do it with those gears, but you'll get used to it fast and it really isn't that bad.
If your driving habits don't change, (i.e. try not to enjoy your new mod too much) gears will affect your your highway mileage more than the stall. The stall will cost you more in the city and retain your highway mileage, unless you drive hilly or mountainous roads that keep the converter from locking.
As for the tech as TSP, if you point blank asked what cam is the max for a stock stall, he gave the textbook answer, and about the smallest cam they offer. I'd guess they would recommend a stall for that cam too, but none of the cams listed on their website recommends a converter, only tuning. Anyone with a working knowledge of cams understands the powerband and the gears and/or stall speed requirements. You can fudge a little, but it's not like he told you to run the MS4 with a stock converter....
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Wichita KS / Rancho San Diego
This order: gears, converter, cam. The gears will provide a foundation for the other mods.
I bought my car with the intention of getting rid of the 2.73s ASAP. 3.42s made a huge difference. Driveability will be poor with either a stall or cam and 2.73s. Get the gears and go from there.
I bought my car with the intention of getting rid of the 2.73s ASAP. 3.42s made a huge difference. Driveability will be poor with either a stall or cam and 2.73s. Get the gears and go from there.
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From: Cincinnati, OH
My car had 4.10's in it when I purchased it, but I love them. Then TCI SSF3500 was hands down the best money I ever put into the car as far as improving performance is concerned. Mid-low 12's with only bolt ons? You bet! A cam without supporting mods is probably the worst decision you could make. I bet either the gears or stall would individually make a better performance improvement than the cam. I'm with all the other guys 
Or I could ask questions like I am doing now.
I have searched the site and I had it narrowed down, but I will tell you in all of my searching I saw a lot of cam recommendations but I never would have equated a cam with gear ratios. I have done research on all of my parts, I got deals on them and I weighed the pro's and cons, and in all of the parts I have bought I regret nothing. I am actually excited about looking into a stall converter now. These guys seem like they know there stuff. So if they are willing to help me I appreciate it.
I have searched the site and I had it narrowed down, but I will tell you in all of my searching I saw a lot of cam recommendations but I never would have equated a cam with gear ratios. I have done research on all of my parts, I got deals on them and I weighed the pro's and cons, and in all of the parts I have bought I regret nothing. I am actually excited about looking into a stall converter now. These guys seem like they know there stuff. So if they are willing to help me I appreciate it.
I am running a Vigi 3400 with 3.42 gears and it is a hell of a fun ride. At 75mph and the gears I am running 2K rpms so I would do gears and stall before going with the cam. The 3.42s are great for a DD.
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I don't know how or what your were searching, but in your case asking the questions will do you better. Edelbrock shorties? Flowmaster catback? Weiand intake? Sorry, but you're making all the wrong decisions. Save up a few more dollars and get a quality converter and cooler.
Weiand for 300 including porting
BBK for 100 bucks
Flowmaster came on the car...better than stock
Sorry I think I made the right ones......
I think a used TCI 2400 stall torque converter would fit your criteria well, as it will work nicely with everything else. Remember, build as a combo. Use sub-par intake and exhaust, get the sub-par converter too.
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don't see how any of the parts I got were sub par they are built with the best quality as far as I can tell. Sorry I only have myself as far as putting on parts and I have to work within a budget. 100 dollars for 10 horse, or 15-20 horse with a cost of 300 for LT's 200 for cats and 100 for a tune Oh and if I can't do it there is another 400 dollars to pay somebody. Weiand is based on the LS6 intake, please don't start with the heat soak, I live in AZ, and I don't see it. You are going to have to do better than that, or are you just trying to make yourself feel better? Look if you have that kind of money to spend on mods then good for you, I have spent less than a thousand for some pretty reasonable upgrades. I am not looking to break any speed records and am happy with the mods I have. Now why don't you go take out your bad mood on somebody else.