Benefits of a Torque Converter

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Feb 4, 2006 | 11:32 AM

riscx

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Joined: January 29, 2005

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I keep hearing that a Torque Converter offers the best bang-4-yer-buck for automatics, even better than a tune. However I really don't know what the heck a Torque Converter actually does?

This page: http://www.jmschip.com/shop/product_...roducts_id=400

says it "Loosens" up 600-700rpm compared to stock one and costs around $450.

Does anybody have one of theses installed? What exactly are the benefits? I'm guessing it "frees up torque" i.e. give you more so you can run down quicker 1/4 miles?

If someone has one is it worth it? If it is, is it difficult to install?

Thanks for any info/feedback.

Feb 4, 2006 | 01:44 PM

RPM

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Never had an auto GT but in other cars where I installed a good torque converter (Continental, Coan, ATI, etc) matched to the engine and vehicle the difference was incredible! Hard to install? The answer to that question is: it depends on your skill. I thought it was easy in the cars I worked on. The right converter is a great bang for the buck, one of the best. Keywords: the right converter. A crappy converter is a whole other story. Spend the money and get a quality part done by someone who knows your application (i.e. someone who knows and specifically builds converters for Ford 4.6L engines and automatics) and you will be one happy camper.

I've run 3200 stall 10" converters on the street just fine. Don't know if I'd go much smaller/higher stall than that though.

Feb 4, 2006 | 03:15 PM

70MACH1OWNER

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From: New Carlisle, Ohio (20 miles north of Dayton)

Hey guys,
I have an auto and am considering a torque converter but don't know what stall or size to get for a daily driver. NOT JUST A WEEKEND WARRIOR. What is the stall speed of the stock converter?? I have been following BLAZING SADDLES ( George) posts on this subject. I just want the best street performance possible.
Scott [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dunno.gif[/img]

Feb 4, 2006 | 03:23 PM

acadian

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I may also be interested in a converter, but don't know which company out there has the "best bang for the buck" right now for the '05 auto. I know some members here with autos have a converter installed... any advice or info would be greatly appreciated.

Basically... if I have five or six hundred dollars, would I see better results by getting a torque converter or gears installed in my auto?

Feb 4, 2006 | 03:43 PM

Blazing Saddles

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Posts: n/a

I'm happy with the TCI 3000. It's got good street manners. For racing you would like your converter to stall about 400-500 RPM's before peak torque. N/A my torque peak was 4100 so the best stall for that combo would be 3600-3700 which I felt was a little too much for the street. But with the Nitrous the car launches like a beast. My best 60' is 1.57 which is better than any stick car I've seen running a 100 shot.

Feb 4, 2006 | 03:47 PM

dustindu4

9 is not my lucky number.

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Don't forget George's wheels come off the ground!

Feb 4, 2006 | 03:48 PM

70MACH1OWNER

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From: New Carlisle, Ohio (20 miles north of Dayton)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Blazing Saddles @ February 4, 2006, 4:46 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
I'm happy with the TCI 3000. It's got good street manners. For racing you would like your converter to stall about 400-500 RPM's before peak torque. N/A my torque peak was 4100 so the best stall for that combo would be 3600-3700 which I felt was a little too much for the street. But with the Nitrous the car launches like a beast. My best 60' is 1.57 which is better than any stick car I've seen running a 100 shot.
[/b][/quote]

George,
No one can argue with your results. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumb.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumb.gif[/img] So I take it your TCI stalls at 3000 rpm? Do you know what the stock converter stalls at??
Scott

Feb 4, 2006 | 03:58 PM

Blazing Saddles

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Posts: n/a

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(acadian @ February 4, 2006, 5:26 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
I may also be interested in a converter, but don't know which company out there has the "best bang for the buck" right now for the '05 auto. I know some members here with autos have a converter installed... any advice or info would be greatly appreciated.

Basically... if I have five or six hundred dollars, would I see better results by getting a torque converter or gears installed in my auto?
[/b][/quote]
For pure enjoyment on the street gears would be first. For racing a converter would be first. That's a tough choice. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen.gif[/img]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(70MACH1OWNER @ February 4, 2006, 5:51 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
George,
No one can argue with your results. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumb.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumb.gif[/img] So I take it your TCI stalls at 3000 rpm? Do you know what the stock converter stalls at??
Scott
[/b][/quote]
The stock converter stalls around 1900-2000.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dustindu4 @ February 4, 2006, 5:50 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
Don't forget George's wheels come off the ground!
[/b][/quote]
Just the front ones. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen.gif[/img]

Feb 4, 2006 | 10:03 PM

Thunder Road

Team Mustang Source

Joined: February 7, 2005

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I would contact Alternative Auto about the TQ converter.
http://www.alternativeauto.com/misc/...et_update.html

Feb 4, 2006 | 10:14 PM

#10

spyder7724

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i also have a TCI. i love it. i did have them bump mine up a bit. it stalls about 3800-4000rpm. the stock was 2500-2700 rpm. its not just stall speed that makes a good converter. some companies are taking stock converters and putting a different stator in which increases stall speed but doesn't help with torque multiplication or its ability to transfer the torque to the ground. for a street car the standard TCI street fighter is probably perfect. i race a lot and daily driving wasn't too much of a concern. although i drive it a lot i have had no problems. the fact that the lock up function is retained helps with rpms while cruising. it allows you to have the best of both worlds.better launch and low rpm cruising on the highway. when my car was being tuned jj found anywhere from 40-73 ft.lbs of rear wheel torque that wasn't being applied by the stock converter tune. once the converter is in get it dyno tuned and it will be even better. you won't be sorry you did it.

Feb 5, 2006 | 06:14 AM

#11

enitalp

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I've read many post on torque converter, i'm a totaly noob on mechanics, and after many read i still don't know what a torque converter do. Why people are asking if it's streatable. The only thing i remember after those read is : it's good to have one. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/headscratch.gif[/img]

actualy i run
2.027/8.490/13.121@107.753 (it was my 7th day on the drag and the season end. pretty sure with more run the time would go down again with a little more time [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/banghead.gif[/img] ).
My last 2 days on track was :
2.027/8.490/13.121@107.753
2.023/8.496/13.178@107.524
2.098/8.571/13.232@108.180
2.109/8.554/13.236@????
2.113/8.628/13.299@107.884
?????/8.664/13.354@107.882

with UDP, CAI, XCal2, Catback. 93 Tune, stock tire.

I launch my car at 2200 rpm, tried higher but the car moves even with the brakes.

What a TCI 3000 will change to that ?

For the next season i will go with a 4.10 gear, OffRoad H Pipe and Drag Slick.

Feb 5, 2006 | 07:04 AM

#12

dustindu4

9 is not my lucky number.

Joined: March 12, 2004

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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(enitalp @ February 5, 2006, 8:17 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
I launch my car at 2200 rpm, tried higher but the car moves even with the brakes.
What a TCI 3000 will change to that ?
[/b][/quote]

you be able to go up more RPMs before it engages I think

Feb 5, 2006 | 01:27 PM

#13

spyder7724

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if you go on a couple of websites for converters like ATI, TCI or Precision they should give you the complete explaination of a torque converters duties. they give the vehicle the ability to to engage the trans without a clutch. they do this by directing fluid through a series of fins inside the converter.as one part starts spinning thenfluid is directed to the next set of fins which starts engaging the trans. thisis happens a few times in the converter in miliseconds. they also multiply torque. when the fluid is traveling a high speed it will cause the next set of fins to spin(engage) with more force than the engine produces. thats why my car makes 322ft.lbs of torque at the rear wheels. if i didn't have that TCI converter it would have been much lower(approx. 280ft.lbs.)
if you call TCI they can explain this to you much better than me. also lidio(alt. auto) is great and really helpful with these autos. i had his tune originally and it was great.