Danas website says that with a 10" TC his 700 will hold 550HP. So what does that convert into with a regular 12" diamter TC?

 

I can't see how the size of the converter would affect the transmission's power handling ability. Converter size is chosen based on the desired heat handling abilty and rotational mass. The factory used a big converter because it handles heat well (it holds more fluid), and since the stall speed of a stock converter is all of about 1,500 RPM they can easily achieve this stall with a big converter. Once stall speeds start to climb above 3,000 converter size generally starts to go down. The reason is the way a converter is designed to achieve a desired stall speed. It is effectively impossible to get the vanes at the right pitch to make a 12" diameter converter have a 5,500 RPM stall for example, which is why converters with a 5,500 stall are typically 9" or 8" in diameter. Also, when the stall speed starts to get that high it is obvious that the converter is going to be used in a street/strip or strip only car where heat hadnling isn't as big a concern, and less rotational mass is very desirable.

I would say that if Dana says his 700R4s are good to 550 HP with a 10" converter they are good to 550 HP with a 12" converter. I know they are more than adequate for a 450 lbs/ft. motor with an 11" non-lockup converter, because that's what I'm running right now in my Blazer. I can't say enough good things about the trans, which I built from one of Dana's kits. I also can't say enough good things about Dana. His constant technical support and help over the phone made sure that I got the trans together right the first time.

 

Awesome info, Thanks TKO.