This may sound stupid but:
Can someone explain to me what locking up the torque converter means?
I see them advertised to lockup at different RPMs and adding manual switches for them.
The 700R4 is not computer controlled, but when I had mine rebuilt they told me that the computer locked up the converter automatically.
What is the +/- of auto vs. manual lockup? What are the advantages of different RPMs?

Thanks

 

Simply put, a lock up converter (when locked) will lock the guts up in a torque converter. This causes the converter to run cooler, makes less heat and give better gas milage. The converter is locked up by hydraulic pressure coming from a solenoid. This solenoid is triggered by the ecm signal and runs thru some pressure switches. In my opinion, lock up on a street car is the only way to go.

 

If you are going to continue to run it without a switch, get an external trans cooler on it asap. That will cut down on the heat from not using the switch and extend the life of the trans.

 

I would like to add to this question, I am also interested in the hole lock up thing for a converter. A quick question to you guys is if you have a converter that has a stall of arond 2000 to 2500 does it make the car unstreetibe? And would getting a high stall with a lock up make the car more streetible? One more question if you have a high stall does that mean that the converter wont grab until the stall speed is reached during none race situations? Example 2000 stall, do you have to rev the engine that high every time before the converter grabs? OK I promiss last question, can you always keep the stall on for example driving around town, and if you can does it act like a stock converter? Wow thats a lot of quesitons but something I have been wondering about. Thanks guys

 

I had the same questions when i was trying to configure my setup

From what everyone else here told me, with even a 3k RPM stall it will act like the stock one while driving around except for when you powerbrake you can bring the RPMs up to the stall speed without loading up the engine to get it in its powerband for the launch.

 

Hey thanks for your input!! Im going to start a new thread about my question again, i want to get more responses about the lock up. Thanks for you help 84z28350!