Well I am recieving my shift kit, trans cooler and powertrax on monday, so I want to start thinkin about high stall torque converters.
what do I need to know before getting one, I got my 700r from a junkyard station wagon, so I have no idea what year it is or anything.

Also, I'm thinking about a 2500-3000 stall converter, my peak torque is around 350-400 ft/lbs @ 3500rpm but I need my car to be somewhat docile on the street. it's my daily driver.

If I get 3000 stall converter, does that mean that the TC will be slipping when cruising in 3rd at 2500rpm? does it lockup or do I have to get the lockup type converter?

what company makes the best converter?
I want my car to launch like a ****.
Will I maybe gain a few mph with a more efficient converter?

 

Precision Industries makes the "Vililante" torque convertors, and they are the best convertors for what you want. They are very strong, and built to last. I have a few friends that have them and they have lasted behind 500hp motors with no problems. They have lock-up that can be wired up through a toggle switch so you can lock it up whenever you want. They run about $850, which is the only downfall, but they are worth it if you can afford it.

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1991 Camaro RS, approximately 500hp 355, 11:1 compression, Eagle h-beam rods, forged steel crank, TRW lightweight 2 valve relief pistons, comp cams hydraulic roller, fully ported Dart Iron Eagle heads, Victor Jr., Holley 750, Hooker shorty headers w/3" collector, true dual 3" exhaust, Moroso spiral mufflers, T56 6-speed, Boyd Coddington 17x9, 17x11 wheels, 275/40zr17 fronts, 315/35zr17 rears, Cerillo racing seats w/ harnesses, Harwood cowl hood, 4:10 posi, Global West adjustable rear suspension, panhard bar and torque arm, Hotchkis front and rear springs, 1LE sway bars, Koni adjustable shocks.

 

Definitely worth the price to buy them....

Love mine and I wont go back to anything else...

 

I have a Vigalente now. Excellent piece. I had a Neal Racing TC. Also a good piece. I've heard good things about Yank, also. You will have to figure out what year your tranny is, though. There are certain years you want to stay away from. Check the tranny board for more info, specifically Pro-Built. Here are some links for you:
http://www.ddunbar.com/nrc/

http://www.converter.cc/

http://www.protorque.com/about/aboutus.

http://www.converter.com/

------------------
Bob '89 Ram Air Formula 350
And until that time when death won't wait, let each man rage against his fate. (O'neill)
My car's homepage
Rider's Ride

 

It should be noted that the Vigilante comes in three variations, the standard (~$850), the three-disc (~$1000) and the five-disc (~$1100).

The standard Vigilante should not be locked up manually as it is not designed to do so, like all other converters. The three and five-disc units are. The choice between these two will be determined by the amount of horsepower and torque applied to them.

------------------
Willie

Supercharged 1987 305 IROC-Z, Daily-Driver, Emissions-Legal.
Former Paxton (6-psig): 12.57 @ 111 mph.
Former Paxton (6-psig) & former 50-hp nitrous: 12.04 @ 114 mph.
Current ATI D1SC (Initially 10-psig): Projecting high 11's.
Future ATI D1SC (15-psig): Gotta catch them pesky 26-psig boosted TTA's!!

http://willie.camaro-firebird.org/

1987 "20th Anniversary Commemorative Edition" Z28 Convertible -- Super Chevy Show Class Winner, 1998.

 

well i bought a SLP torque converter 2400 rmp stall for around 300 form them and i like it very much

------------------
91 camaro RS
- 305 TBI
Mods: Performer TBI intake, 1" TBI spacer, K+N, jet fan switch ,160 thermo,Accel control module, Jet Stage 2 chip, edelbrock TES headers, Compleate 3" Flowmaster exhaust, Edelbrock springs, KYB struts and shocks, 700R4 built by TSI, SLP tq converter, b+m trans cooler, white guage faces, megashifter..
next month: spohn LCA's and panhard rod, BMR relocation brackets, 323 gear

 

I checked out the yank site, thier 2800 stall 3.0 ratio converter is only $595 and is designed to be locked up, and on their dino test it showed to be better than a vigilante 2800. I don't know how accurate the graphs are but for that price.....
Anyone run one of these yank converers?

------------------
'88 RS (originally 2.8)
-350, .040 over, vette alum. L98s, stock tpi.
-305 injectors & chip
-TES headers & edelbrock cat back
-3.73 gears, 700r4.
Best with 2.8-17.4@77mph
Best with 305-15.0@93mph
Best with 356-13.7@101mph
on a 2.050 60 ft.
(Damn the 2.8!)

 

The yanks are supposed to be more efficient than the vigilante at the top end of the track. Go to LS1.com and go to their racing forum or the drivetrain forum and search for yank and you will get all the info you can stand. That topic has been beaten to death over there.

I plan on buying a yank, but if I can get a used vigilante for cheaper, I'll take it. If I were buying new, I'd get the yank. They offer more of a variety of convertors for different applications.

Get a tranny cooler also, and don't be afraid to get a good stall speed, like anything over 2800 rpm, it won't hurt you.

 

First of all thanks for the replys!

second, I imagine this is an awfully stupid question, but how will a converter act with a higher stall when cruising around at 1500-2000rpm part throttle? will it be slipping that whole time unless manually locked up?

how is to take off normally? revving like im ridding the clutch?

what about when i punch it?

thanks,
Jeremy

 

The car will rev a little higher than normal when taking off on normal driving, but not that bad. You want to be sure to get yourself a good tranny cooler so that everything lives longer. When you punch it, it will flash up to the stall speed, or even a little higher, and it will take off like you were just rear-ended. Kind of like pushing in the clutch, reving it to three grand, then dumping it. A good convertor will give you almost 1/2 second in the 1/4 mile, given you have enough traction.

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1991 Camaro RS, approximately 500hp 355, 11:1 compression, Eagle h-beam rods, forged steel crank, TRW lightweight 2 valve relief pistons, comp cams hydraulic roller, fully ported Dart Iron Eagle heads, Victor Jr., Holley 750, Hooker shorty headers w/3" collector, true dual 3" exhaust, Moroso spiral mufflers, T56 6-speed, Boyd Coddington 17x9, 17x11 wheels, 275/40zr17 fronts, 315/35zr17 rears, Cerillo racing seats w/ harnesses, Harwood cowl hood, 4:10 posi, Global West adjustable rear suspension, panhard bar and torque arm, Hotchkis front and rear springs, 1LE sway bars, Koni adjustable shocks.

 

If I were u I wouldnt get a stall converter because its ur everyday driver. But thats just my opinion.

 

Rallyssport, you obviously haven't driven a car with a -quality- high-stall converter like those from Precision Industries. With a big cam and peakier power, it actually makes the car more driveable. I have a P.I. 12" high-stall converter (about 2400 rpm) and it does fine in daily driving and stop-and-go traffic. The P.I. Vigilante converter is also a tight converter at lower throttle inputs, but stalls up nicely at WOT with stall speeds from 2600 rpm on up to 3600 (or maybe higher).

------------------
Greg Westphal
'87 IROC 355TPI/A4

 

What ever company you decide to go with, just make sure they know your engine combo, and any future mods/upgrades that your gonna do. Then they will be able to match the stall with your engine/tranny/rear gear set up. You always wanna go 500-750 rpm BELOW your peak torque. I learned that from taking the Tech Quiz on www.summitracing.com so I'd say it's pretty true. I never would have known otherwise. Just a little FYI.

 

I have a 2000 Z28 with a 6 speed now, but i was going to get a 99 WS6 TA with a auto. When i asked about converters on ls1.com i was reffered to the search option at the top of the page. And let me tell you...dynos amongst dyno's comparing and proving. I finally found someone a couple miles away with one (a friend over the internet) and he let me take a ride in his SS with an auto...very streetable...and well, with his...i found out why they call them yank. Bout yanked me outta my seat. Personally i can not speak for vig. or yank cause i haven't rode in a car with a vig. btw, there was a track comparison of the yank and vig. on ls1.com. I believe the yank had better 60 ft times but the yank had better top end efficiency. (or was it the other way around)

------------------
89 IROC-Z 350 TPI

-Flowmaster Catback
-Performance Resource Chip
-700R4 (Rebuilt) Too much done to actually list
-K&N Airfilters
-Ported Plenum
-2.77 Gears (not much to brag about but eh, its there)
-MSD 8.5 mm plug wires
-Gutted cat
-!AIR
-Gutted Air Boxes

 

TCI has put out some better converters that I've seen. I've seen them make one for a newer AOD mustang and it dropped a little over a second. I wouldn't believed it if I hadn't of seen it.
Alot the top turbo guys and procharger guys run their parts and converters in the NMCA races.

All in all those guy know what they're doing.
And they're glad to help ya.

 

Branz28,
Do you remember what the stall speed of the guy's SS was?

------------------

• 83 Z28-- not a pretty site to look at, 200k miles and im sure it was treated like a rental car every day of its sad life(before i got it).. sold, thank the lord
• 74 Z28-- 383/400, green on black. pretty clean. FOR SALE!!!

 

Hey Branz28,
Did that SS you rode in have a Yank converter or do you not know what it was? I'm planning on getting a Yank and love hearing good things about them.

------------------
'88 RS (originally 2.8)
-350, .040 over, vette alum. L98s, stock tpi.
-305 injectors & chip
-TES headers & edelbrock cat back
-3.73 gears, 700r4.
Best with 2.8-17.4@77mph
Best with 305-15.0@93mph
Best with 356-13.7@101mph
on a 2.050 60 ft.
(Damn the 2.8!)

 

It's stall speed was around 3500 i believe and it was a yank. If any of you live in big city's especially like houston, texas find one of the fourth gens with a A4. Most likely he has a yank in it because a good deal of the members on LS1.com are from TX and various other places. My only description was WOW. Hit hard off the line. Definitly felt like it could take a M6 from a roll.
------------------
89 IROC-Z 350 TPI

-Flowmaster Catback
-Performance Resource Chip
-700R4 (Rebuilt) Too much done to actually list
-K&N Airfilters
-Ported Plenum
-2.77 Gears (not much to brag about but eh, its there)
-MSD 8.5 mm plug wires
-Gutted cat
-!AIR
-Gutted Air Boxes

[This message has been edited by branz28 (edited June 14, 2001).]

 

I think it's hella funny that people who back the Vigilante like it's the best thing out since sliced bread and people that actually have them can't even spell its name correctly! Haha!

 

Everyones a critic


------------------
89 IROC-Z 350 TPI

-Flowmaster Catback
-Performance Resource Chip
-700R4 (Rebuilt) Too much done to actually list
-K&N Airfilters
-Ported Plenum
-2.77 Gears (not much to brag about but eh, its there)
-MSD 8.5 mm plug wires
-Gutted cat
-!AIR
-Gutted Air Boxes