What exactly is a stall converter? I asked my dad and he has been around high performance cars for the last 35 years and he dosent even know what exactly they are and what they do. I know this may be a dumb ? but i am just curious

 

All converters stall. A factory converter stalls around 1200 rpm.

Torque Converters
Selecting a torque converter

 

Thank you very much, that explains alot. its great when someone can help without making fun of somebody less in the "know"

 

Curiously, since in 10 or so years of racing, I just bought my first automatic car. What is this "lockup" vs "non lockup" I see on summits website regarding converters?

i'm thinking with my 230/245 @.050 cam I should go around 2500rpm stall, but I'm confused about the "lockup" vs "non lockup". does non lockup simply mean not computer controlled lockup?

-- Joe

 

Stephen, I'm diggin the new scoop addition on the IROC

 

Looks cool eh?

A lockup converter will lock the converter internals to keep them from slipping. A locked converter will get better fuel mileage. You can convert a 700R4 tranny to have a lockup without a computer.

 

Well, since I'm using the ECM, and can control some aspects of TCC lock, do I want a 'lockup' converter, or a 'non-lockup' ? I'm new to automatics, this is a new project for me and I'm learning.

Thanks!

-- Joe

 

If your driving street you want a lockup.

That way you can run a high stall to have lots of fun and still end up with decent fuel economy while cruising, while also reducing trans fluid temp and extending trans life.

If your on the track only you wont be needing a lockup!

 

not necessarily true. Many guys go faster by locking the converter while going down the track(if you can pull it), but that takes a much more expensive 3 or 5 disc converter to not burn up the converter.

all this said, if you're just gonna race it, why screw with a 700r? The lower 1st gear is negated by the jump from 1st to 2nd. Drop the rear-gear to where you need it and drop a T350 or T400 in.

 

Things are a little different in vette world than fbody.

I'm gonna run the 700R4 for the summer, than consider a 6-speed + dana44 swap in the fall, while I do the c5 conversion and interior conversion.

So basicly, I want a lockup converter.. Rock on. Thanks guys. I'm automatic stupid. I've always just ignored the auto stuff.

-- Joe