Torque converter Q's
 

My current tranny has been chugging along fathfully, but recently it has started slipping. It is the torque conveter lockup clutch(s). Every time it trys to lockup, it sudders, slips, then works. I'm going to put some Lucas's to try and extend the life until I can get a new tranny. That's the only problem but I don't want to put a new torque converter on a old tranny and have it go out from new fluid.

I'm planning on getting a stage 2 TH700 from bowtie overdrives. I hopfully with have enough cash for it in 5 months. I want to get a high quality torque converter too but bowtie's seem expensive. (I know Mike! You get what you pay for...) What are some high quality ones you reccomend? What stall should I get? It will live behind my 305 until I get a goodwrench crate 350. I might put a mild cam (MILD - I need to pass emissions too) so what would be a good stall?

I'm going to post this in the drivetrain forum too, but I trust your guy's judgement more.

I bought a 92 Chevy van about a month ago. It's doing the same thing, the infamous converter shudder. Get's real irritating. I'm going to change mine when I get around to it.

Anyway, you don't need anything special for a converter with a 305 or mild 350. A stock converter will work just fine. One advantage of a 700R4 is you can use a little looser converter and not waste much gas, since you have lockup.

If your plans are never to go over a mild came in the 350, keep it around 1800. Stall doesn't really do anything to raise performance, it just let's you use what you already have. With a bigger cam, you need the stall to raise the useful rpm range up higher. No use in having a cam that really starts coming on at 2500 and the converter stalling at 1600. They also really help with holding it at stop lights if you have to raise the idle up with big cams. One thing a converter will do is take away any traction you ever had. :)

On brands, stay as far as you can away from B&M. They are junk. I've heard good things about Contenental. But it's hard to beat a GM converter for applications like this too.

Hmm..I wouldn't put a B.O. 700R if it was my money. There's a few local shops who can build a pretty decent 700R for a good price. Try Tradeway Transmission's here in Modesto. A friend of mine used to work there and he said they know their stuff. :)

I read an article about a car (an impala?) where you could replace the converter with a stock one from a S-10 and get good performance. Know what I am talking about?

I say go with the bowtie overdrives.. I got the stage 2 and its awesome.

the 2200 stall heavy duty T.C. was only $150 from them too.

I recently broke the advance adapters output shaft on this trans (pics) and they are going to replace it while I wait and take care of the warranty work dealing with AA themselves.

I could have gotten a cheaper trans but if you go thru the entire experience with bowtie overdrives, you will see why they are better.. Then again its your money

mike

The torque converters are $500 on their website. What is with that difference?

Yes, I sure do. I have one in my truck. It's killer. Stalls around 2200-2400 rpm. Just a guess, I have no way to check it for sure since I have no traction. :)

The converter came in 95+ L35 Vortec S10's. Same stall as the 86 Corvette converters. I think this converter would work well in your truck. Remember, the more torque your engine has, and the heaiver the vehicle, the higher the stall. I bought mine new from the dealer, and they ain't cheap. You might get lucky and find one at a junkyard.

I got a link to a website describing the S-10 to an impala but didn't remember the specifics. How much did you pay from the dealer if you don't mind?

Yes, I have the same site bookmarked. This is where I found out about the converter in the first place.

http://www.theherd.com/articles/torque.html

When I bought mine, back in May of 99, I paid $206.50 before tax. This is the wholesale price. But one catch is the core charge. This is $35.00. The catch is it must be the same converter number. You might could take them any old 700R4 converter and get by with it. I didn't try. I just paid the core charge. So mine cost me $255.77 tax and all.

I just checked at gmpartsdirect.com and it would cost me $256 and change to buy one from them, by the time I added shipping. Here's the link to them.

http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results...umber=24202310