I hear a lot of people recommend the "High" quality torque converters. These are typically 2-3 times the cost of some of the inexpensive ones. I can find cheap ones in summit for like $100 or so. The B&M & TCI's arn't too much more. Are the expensive ones worth the extra money and why?

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'84 Camaro w/ Large Jouranl 327 bored .030 over; 3.73 geared Auburn Limited Slip Diff. FlowMaster Muffler w/ Shortie Headers. TH-350 Built Trany Underneath B&M Mega-Shifter. Many Engine compartment Dress Up Mods. Edelbrock High Flow Water Pump w/ Flex-a-Lite Cooling Fan.
It is still under construction @ www.iserv.net~brodgers

 

If you like your transmission, yes. I first played with higher stall TCs in the early 70s. In those days, they were the worst of both worlds...expensive prices with poor quality. The net result was fried trannies.

It took me over 20 years to reconsider a higher stall TC as a viable modification for a street/daily driver. That is how bad my experience with them were. Now that I am a little older and wiser, I realize that it wasn't the concept of a higher stall TC that was bad, but the cheap TCs.

PS: Make sure you install a tranny cooler.

[This message has been edited by Glenn91L98GTA (edited January 05, 2001).]

 

You get what you pay for with torque converters. The higher priced ones are built to take more abuse. When you add in the cost of anti-ballooning plates and furnace brazed the cost goes up. Also the smaller in diameter the torque converter, the higher the cost. A 12" street converter with a 2000 stall isn't designed to be used with nitrous or transbrakes where a 8-10" converter usually is. If the 8-10" one isn't designed that way then the cost is a little less. I spent $400 for my 10" converter. The new big block may be too much for it. If I want a similar converter that will handle more than 500 hp and a transbrake, I can expect to pay about $800.

Like mentioned above. Higher stall converters generate heat because they slip so much to get that higher stall. Install a big cooler to bring the temperature back down especially if used on the street.

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Stephen's racing page

87 IROC-Z Pro ET Bracket Race Car
383 stroker (carbed) with double hump cast iron heads and pump gas
454 Big Block buildup now in progress for the 2001 racing season

Best results before the 383 blew up
Best ET on a time slip: 11.857 altitude corrected to 11.163
Best MPH on a time slip: 117.87 altitude corrected to 126.10
Altitude corrected rear wheel HP based on power to weight ratio: 476.5
Best 60 foot: 1.662

Racing at 3500 feet elevation but most race days it's over 5000 feet density altitude!
Member of the Calgary Drag Racing Association

87 IROC bracket car, 91 454SS daily driver, 95 Homebuilt Harley

 

Our cars use a lockup converter. I have never seen a lockup for $100. I consider mine to be a cheap one (TCI) and I paid almost $400 for it.



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86 Camaro Sport
383 Speed-O-Motive Crate Engine, Trick Flow Twisted Wedge G2's, 58mm Accel TB, 3.73 Auburn Pro, SLP Cold Air Induction and Headers, Dynomax Cat-back, Serpentine Belt Setup, Dual IROC Fans, Jamex springs, 16" IROC Rims, 36mm/24mm Sway Bars, Global West Steering Brace. Hotchkis Rear LCA's,Panhard Bar and SFC's.
http://www.sethirdgen.org/octride.htm

 

Good point John. The cheap convertors aren't that much cheaper.

 

if i get a high stall lockup converter,what are the downsides

 

I think I've narrowed it down to either the Protorque 12" 2500 stall or the Vigalante 9.5" 2600 stall. Will the 9.5 do alot more for me compared to the 12"?
The difference in price is $400 for the Protorque and $700 for the Vig.
Thanks

Bob

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350 TPI, 700R4(rebuilt), K&N's, MSD 6AL, Headers, Flowmaster, 160* stat, airfoil, MAF screens cut out. 13.88 @ 101.18 mph

 

Lost of Advice! I'll have to double check that the ones I've looked at were lockup or not. It sounds like a little more money now will get me a lot further in the future.

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'84 Camaro w/ Large Jouranl 327 bored .030 over; 3.73 geared Auburn Limited Slip Diff. FlowMaster Muffler w/ Shortie Headers. TH-350 Built Trany Underneath B&M Mega-Shifter. Many Engine compartment Dress Up Mods. Edelbrock High Flow Water Pump w/ Flex-a-Lite Cooling Fan.
It is still under construction @ www.iserv.net~brodgers

 

Night & day difference between thr Pro Torque 12" & the Precision Industries Vigilante 9.5". The 12" 2500 rpm stall has a very low rate of torque multiplication (1.4-1.6) compared to the 9.5" 2500 rpm stall of (2.2-2.6). The other difference is the weight about 10-12 lbs less. Many more minor differences to numerous to mention.
Hope This Helps!!!

 

Though Pro Built didn't say it outright...I suspect he too is saying "You get what you pay for".

 

Thanks, I believe I will be getting the 9.5" Vigalante. I might as well do it right the first time.

Bob

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350 TPI, 700R4(rebuilt), K&N's, MSD 6AL, Headers, Flowmaster, 160* stat, airfoil, MAF screens cut out. 13.88 @ 101.18 mph