I have a few questions about Torque Converters and gears. Im looking for some easy mods without touching the motor. Now ive looked into the TC lots i was looking at one of the L35 or S10 Torque converters for the 2200 Stall Speed. But i was looking at gears as well.. My car is a pretty well stock '91 L98 GTA 3.23s and was looking at 3.73s. I was wondering if that would be too much for the stock to use. I really want an extra kick from the launch and i still have a few hundered RPM to spare at the end the the 1/4 so i thought that would help. My times are brutal..im hitting a 14.6 with a 2.3-.4 60fts...And thats with new Nitto 555Rs.. I gotta get a descent 60ft and would really like to see 13s with stock motor. Do you think my lil upgrade would help the car start moving or should i look otherwhere... Remember no motor mods.

 

I'd go higher than 2200 stall. 3.73s alone will help those 60' times. BTW - that's a great ET for such a poor 60'...

2400-2600 stall TC.
3.73 gears.
13's

 

3.73s are too much for a stock 350 TPI. 3.23, or at most 3.42, is what seems to give the best results.

The converter is a different matter. 2500 or even 2800 will make your car feel like somebody hit its back bumper with a giant hammer, compared to what it's doing now.

Driver technique is important too. Rev the engine in gear at the line against the converter, by giving it gas until it revs as high as it will go, and when you want to leave, release the brake and ease farther into the gas at the same time.

 

I disagree. I think 3.73s are just fine for a stock L98.
If you go to 3.42 from 3.23, you aren't going to see much of a difference.

 

Id say its a strong car and It pulls hard as f*ck and i can pull away on any stock Thirdgen ive run into. haven't ran into any TTA or Firehawks thankfully. But L98s even in the Z28 of the latter 3rdgens i can pull on.. Car is just really healthy i guess. Im trying to pull cheap on this.. I dont have tons of mod money so im looking for a cheap converter and some easy gears.. i was always told there was no point in going from 3.23 to 3.42s cause there wasn't enough of a jump. But if you say so. maybe i should just try the converter first...but i want a good jump.

 

I've run consitent 1.8 60's with only 3.23 gears and only a 305 in a heavy convertible. A 2800 vigilante does wonders. Cross the line @ almost 4500 with the converter locked @ 95mph.

Another guy, thirdgen92z28 or something similar has run 1.7s, 13.5 @ 98 with a 2400 stall SLP converter, probably similar to what the S10 converter would do. Also stock 3.23 gears.

Gears just don't make sense in a TPI car. Crossing the line 4500-5k is perfect for a stockish TPI car. Bigger gears just get you out of 1 and 2 faster which leaves you flat at the big end. Spend the money on a cam or intake work.