torque converters
 

hello everyone, good to finally meet people into serious truck modifications. i have a few questions concerning my powertrain. i have a 2001 gmc sierra 1500 5.3 4x4 ext. cab short bed. i wanted to know what RPM stall speed torque converter to get? what type of converter should i use? i was leaning towards a tci 2200-2400 stall. these are the following mods i have: stage III head porting, 212/220 dur @.50 comp cam, crane 1.8 roller rockers, jba headers, k&n fipk, 3" exhaust(no mufflers), custom pcm programming, pwr trax limited slip 3.73 gears, maf de-screening, tb by-pass, egr tube trim. any help and advice on any other trans upgrades are greatly appreciated. look forward to meeting everyone. thanks again.

<small>[ September 26, 2002, 12:56 AM: Message edited by: silent1 ]</small>

Re: torque converters
 

2200-2400 seems pretty weak to me. Most guys on hear go with a 2800 at least. How is the low end with your set up?

Re: torque converters
 

Dont go with a tci. Sounds like you have spent good money on your truck so far, dont get cheap with the converter.

If it were me, I'd get the Yank 2600. We botj have heavy trucks and I personaly wouldn't want a real loose transmission in it. But thats me - others will say different.

http://www.converter.cc/trucks_and_suvs.htm

Where did you get your head work done? How does that cam feel in your truck?

Welcome aboard.
Richard

Re: torque converters
 

my bottom end isn't very strong, that's why i want to add a torque converter. some friends did some investigation for me and said that the tci 2200-2400 was the way to go. i don't really have an opinion on it, so again any advice is welcome. i am planning to do more internal engine work (perhaps some boring or even turn it into a stroker) next spring. any thing else i should do with my trans? available rebuild kits that can handle some serious abuse? transgo shift kit?

to answer your ? Rich, i had my heads worked on at More Performance Inc.
the cam feels good top end. i recently went to the track with my friends grand prix club. i was able to beet the stock gtp's but got wasted by the moded ones.

Re: torque converters
 

With your set up I would definatly not go lower than a 3000 stall.With the head work you have done I can guarantee you have lost some low end.As far as your trany I would put a Transgo kit in while you have it out for the converter swap.

Re: torque converters
 

i have seen a trans that is availabe for the f-body ls1's that is supposed to handle up to 650 ft/lbs of torque. it's made by SLP, is there anything like this available for our trucks. preferably a kit, i can do the rebuild myself.

the people at tci said that a 3200 stall converter is too much for an engine our size(5.3l), but from the link i followed for yank converters it seems that's the stall speed to get.

Re: torque converters
 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">the people at tci said that a 3200 stall converter is too much for an engine our size(5.3l) </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I have been it and driven Oxidizr's truck, which has a 3600 stall on it I beleive, and it was definatly not too much. That thing hit hard when he got on it. Actually, when I drove his truck, that was the my first experience with a car/truck with a torque converter. And I actually could hardly tell it was there, was not really loose as some people have said about TQ's. His is a PI Vigilante, which is probably the brand I am going with, but not with his stall. Debating between a 2800 or a 3200 with the Whipple.

Re: torque converters
 

the people that did my head work didn't recommend my truck as a daily driver, but i still drive it to work everyday. how will a 3200 stall converter affect me at cruising speeds or just around town.

Re: torque converters
 

i have a yank 3200 stall and mine and it is wayyy more tame than i thought it would be. It obviously slips more at low rpms but nowhere near what most people think. The only time i really ever can tell its there is when i have it in gear but dont have the foot on the gas. It will pretty much sit there like a manual with the clutch in

with that set up i would also say over 3000 stall

Re: torque converters
 

there's alot behind them. I still am nowhere close to understanding all of the interworkings of them.

here's a site to help you out though <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

http://www.howstuffworks.com/torque-converter.htm