3200 -3800 converter

[chainsaw]

I just got my new (USED) 350 in my 65. The guy I got it from didnt know the cam specs ,and when I fired it up it has a real nice very choppy lope to it. He said the trans that came with it had a 3200 -3800 stall converter in it. Now Im worried my stock converter (I used my old trans ,not his ) is not going to let the engine idle without trying to move the truck. Is a converter with 3800 stall liveable on the street in a truck that is just a weekend cruiser. I need to decide if I need to pull it back out for a converter swap or leave the stock converter in and chance it. Thanks.

[MBEXHAUST]

Any time I have played with a convertor its the torque of the engine that seems to make the difference. Ive had a 2500 stall TC in a high HP/ low torque small block that wouldn't pull much over 2000 stall. I have used the same TC in a higher torque motor that easily held 2500.

Im sure there are guys on here that are into this everyday that will share more info.

[Clyde65]

Chainsaw, since your kinda local, give Clienbarger a holler, he works/lives in FTW and is pretty savvy on tranny stuff. he is here on the board.

[NCD1966]

personally i wouldnt want a 3000+ stall in a truck for the street.

[Rannos]

I am running a 3000+ converter in my truck. At 60 I pull about 2900 rpm with a 3speed and 28" tires. It works fine. You can run a big cam with a low stall or stock converter. It will just be a pig outta the hole. If you arent worried about performance run your stock one. If you care at all about how the truck runs performance wise you will need a stall. I have seen stock cars pickup .40 in the 1/4 with just a stall converter. It is likely the single most over looked upgrade one can do.

[awbrown]

most guys that ask for a converter for the street will go out the door with a 2000-2500 at my shop ... if it is not stalling when they put it in gear I tell them they are fine ...

[chainsaw]

I'd feel better with 200-2500 stall, but I have the 3200-3800 already, no money left for another converter. Will I have to turn up the idle so much that the truck wants to creep foward when in gear with the stock converter ? Dont really want to pull this back out, its been fighting me the whole time. Just wondered which combo is most streetable .

[onequickchevy]

I run a 4200 stall in mine, a bit excessive but it works great with my combo. I had a 2200 in it when I first built it and it would creep in gear. With my cam it would be much more driveable with a standard,but I had all of this. It is a blast to drive
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[awbrown]

if you are bucks down , go to the junk yard and find a 3 speed vega torque converter , you may have to torch the sheild on it to get it to fit , depends on which one you find ......ran lots of these in my younger days...I had a corvette with a 3500 and I know I will never run one that high again...

[onequickchevy]

I put a Vega converter in mine, it stalled at 5000+, it was awful. I would not suggest it. Not sure if it was the weight of the truck, the horsepower or both, but it sucked. Just my experience though, yours may be different.
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[shortbed70]

What gears? If you have a 3.08 gear it's going to be stalling almost all the time with a 3000+. with 3.73+ I would say go for the larger convertor and a big tranny cooler. A mild sbc will probably only get to 25-2800 before pushing the tires anyway. It's when you flash stall( stand on the gas off idle) that you will get the most out of the convertor. So...gears big stall no gears get smaller convertor when you can. I ran a cam on a stock verter once with manual brakes it sucked holding at a stoplight, sounded cool though. For what it's worth I run a 26-2800 with 3.73/26" tire and 700r4 trans and will flash stall to 3k.
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[chainsaw]

Its got 373 gears and 245/60/15 tires and yea, its still got manual drum brakes all around. I guess Ill get it finished and see how it feels with the stock converter. Im not going to pull it back out now with this heat, Ill wait till Oct. when it cools off. Doing engine swaps in the driveway in the direct sun sucks in August.

[Clyde65]

Originally Posted by chainsaw

Im not going to pull it back out now with this heat, Ill wait till Oct. when it cools off. Doing engine swaps in the driveway in the direct sun sucks in August.

Amen my brutha, amen!

[shortbed70]

I hear ya! Actually I don't know what's worse outside in the sun(possible breeze) or in my shop with no air and a garanted 115!!
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[stich626]

try the one in it, you got nothing to loose, if you don't like it, change it then