trans help

[brad20653]

Does a trans affect power of take off at all ? i have a strong 350 but doesnt seem to take of fast what does a stall converter do ?

[Longhorn Man]

The trans can make HUGE differances on take off.

The torque converter enables you to idle in gear at a complete stop...it engages/disengages the trans mission from the engine.
Stall speed (which I suspect you may actually be lookig for here) can be described better by compairing it to a clutch/manual tranny.
Stock torque converter...is kinda like grand ma taking off from a light driving a 5 spped, she slowly lets off the clutch at a tic above idle. Very subtle, very smooth, and stuff lasts forever. (if done right)
1900 - 2100 stall verter...like some one in a bit of a hurry pulling from the stop light. Revs it up a bit and gets off the line a bit quicker.
2200 & up... The kid in the high school parking lot who puts the tranny in first, revs the p!ss out of the engine and side steps the clutch. WHAT!!! tires spin, the whole drive line is shocked and U-joints scream for mercey.


Some where in there is what you are probably looking for. The main reason you want a higher stall speed...other than trying to get you engine with a way big cam to idle...is to get the vehicle to take off in the power band of the engine. If you floor it and the tranny is already "off the clutch" so to speak, before the engine is making much torque, then it'll be a real dog...trying to push over a 'hill' in the torque curve...the flat booring spot right before the engine wakes up.

If you have too much stall speed, the engine is done making power before the verter is fully engaged...kinda like when you don't take your foot all the way off the clutch pedal and you don't get all the power to the wheels.