klumb15

iTrader: (1)

well i made a mistake in my drivetrain when i built it this winter, and i knew i should've put a bigger stall in, but my dad and trans builder didn't agree.....when i got the tranny built the guy said that torque converter that he gave me was enough, its a remanufactored s series GM converter...he said theres about a 2200 rpm stall speed, and i figured that was enough cuz comp cams said i need 2000+ stall speed...well there is barely any/if any stall to it...and now i'm paying for it...my car sucks so much under 2,000 rpms...its rediculous...after 2 grand tho it screams.....i can't launch the car at all cuz it won't sit and stall at like 2 grand, and it will just like bog out some of the time when i do a brake stand....but if i get them to bust loose, its fine, but the hard part is trying to get the rpms up without bogging the car out...

so i'm thinking about swapping out my torque converter for like a TCI 2800 or 3000...my main concern is TIME...i'm gonna be up at college, but i'll be back on like christmas/spring break/thanksgiving etc.... how much work is it? drop the exhaust, undo the drivetrain, undo the tranny lines/wires..then unbolt the trans? how easy is it to get to the top bolts of the trans? does the engine have to be tilted back at all? I just don't wanna get into it, and realize its a bigger job than i planned..

then i got to thinking, why dont' i go with my original plan and put a 6 speed in....my dad voted against that idea too.....and i think if i went as far as ripping the automatic trans out again, it would be just as easy to put a 6 speed back in....

i'm just looking for some input and see what you guys think i should do..

IHI

iTrader: (1)

Convertor swaps are simple, no brainer upgrades. a lil time consuming depending how much stuff you have to remove, but nothing "special" required other than natural mechanical common sence.

vega convertors, s-10 convertors, etc...trailer trash way of doing the band aid fix. A convertor is just as important as a cam/gears/etc...

klumb15

iTrader: (1)

yea i know...i told the guy the cam specs, and i said I NEED a converter with a 2000+ stall speed, and he was like yea yea yea this oen will work fine...so your saying dropping the trans is pretty easy, and the bolts on the top of the trans are fairyly accessible?


how big do i go now tho? 2800? 3000? is TCI good enough, i can't justify the cost of like a yank or something...cuz this isn't a straight out strip car..its mostly a daily driver...just a fast one..

IHI

iTrader: (1)

For a bullet proof convertor that you plan on punishing with spray, your looking a minimum of $500+ since it'll have to be beefed internally to endure the pressure you plan on putting to it.

I've had great luck with this current TCI unit, excellent street manners with great off idle performance, and VERY consistant at the track. What is the actual duration of you cam? if your in the 230/230 range I'd seriously look into at least a 3K stall, preferably a 3500 unit.

klumb15

iTrader: (1)

224/230 duration, .503/.510 lift, 543/535 lift after 1.6 RR's....i have about 375 horse, and i'm not planning on any more than that....i may add nitrous in the distant future, maybe like a 75 shot, but thats it...

should i get something like the TCI streetfighter, it says its 1500 over stock and is approx 2800-3200 stall....and the super streetfighter i think would be too big..

IHI

iTrader: (1)

With your duration the street fighter seems to be the right rpm range needed for your appliation. Just be sure it comes with anti ballon plates otherwise you'll literally blow your convertor up after some time on the juice.

klumb15

iTrader: (1)

okay...do i have to ask for that, or should it come with it...then i still need to know about unbolting the trans, you don't have to tilt the engine back or anything? is there room to get your hands up top to get the top bolts off?

klumb15

iTrader: (1)

http://www.tciauto.com/converters/index.htm

i found this nice article on there site....the streetfighter is 3000-3400 expected stall speed...so that will suite me pretty good...but it doesn't say anything about the anti balloon plates or anything..

IHI

iTrader: (1)

Since under hood is so darn tight in these thiings, it'd probably be easier in the scheme of things to pull the dizzy so you can tilt the motor back for all acess to bellhousing bolts.

I remember when I swapped out my 700r4 for my TH350 years ago, out of all the tranny swaps I've ever done, this car was by far the easiest. I've always used a bunch of extensions on a ratchet when working on GM tranny's so i can stay back by the tailshaft and see all the bolts and back them out/crank them down easily....just someting I learned years ago going through junk yard tranny's in high school trying to keep my junk on the road...can you say 4 in one month

I would personally call and talk with TCI and see what they say, you need to have anti balloon plates to make that convertor live with nitrous use, if not it's just a matter of time before the convertor will start to go bad. That added hit of juice and the torque it adds really puts stress on the convertor, so spend a lil bit of money now 1 time, or spend twice as much later.

kevin89formula

I just took a tci streetfighter out of my car today. Way to much stall for Driving around town. And I only drive this car 4 or 5 times a month. Cruising characteristics were terrible, no part throttle, all or nothing. I run a 383, superram, lpe 219/219 cam. I know your set up is differant than mine but I would research it a lot before you buy.

buy the way, I am going to sell the TCI converter, (for a 89 700r4), Just haven't posted an ad yet. It has about 800 miles on it. NO anti ballon plate. 225.00 shipped

klumb15

iTrader: (1)

well your the guy to talk to....i'll PM you...