F-Body Europe

I am looking into gettting a new torque converter for my camaro but am not sure what stall to get. I still want to keep the car streetable but I definately want a performance gain. I'm looking into a 2600 stall made by SLP for about $400. If anyone has any suggestions as to a different stall... or a company to buy from or avoid I would appreciate the advice. Also I am planning on adding some hedders, under drive pulley, and some other little tid bits after I get back from the sand box. Thanks in advance for all of the help!

Jr
The way I've been told is that you want your torque converter to flash just before max torque is made.

Second thing. You are gonna need a tranny cooler ,especially for stop and go city traffic in hot weather or hilly country.

Any body else.

I have heard nothing but good things about the Vigilante TC. I just picked one up myself, a 2600 stall, although my knowledge on how they actually work is zero! This is what I was told: "THE TORQUE DEVELOPED BY THE ENGINE DETERMINES THE STALL. THE CONVERTER ACTUALLY SLIPS TO ALLOW THE ENGINE TO GET IN IT'S POWER BAND. USUALLY 2500 RPM AND UP. WHEN YOU CHANGE CAMSHAFTS THE BAND MOVES, THUS A HIGHER STALL." When I throw mine on I will let you know how it goes. Mike

Thanks for the info...... I would appreciate the input after yours is installed.

I have a tranny cooler going through my radiator already I think........ I'll have to check out the line though/..... but do you think that if it is that that would be sufficent? I was still thinking of getting an external cooler one of these days though.

I will inquire and let you know. I think you do have one because I was told I have one too. We both have 96's so...I will check and ask when I put mine in. Later man, Mike

Cool thanks for all of the help!

Jr
Yes your car does come with one that is integral with your radiator. but depending in your stall speed and your driving habits, will determine your need for xtra cooling.

food for thought though , If you atempt Bitburg Festival of Speed without additional cooling especially the road racing or autocrossing of any kind . You will probabaly see fluid temps hovering around 240-250 on the fluid. That is a bad thing. Normal fluid operating temp is between 195 and 225 degs F.

A shift kit works good with a stall and they run a little cooler due to the fact that the shift kit reduces slipage in the transmision if you go with a lock-up stall you should be good and like roy said it depends how you plan to drive it. Just remember it slips more at low RPM's making heat your rear gears will make it slip more also. This could get really long but I do not know how you drive so it depends. If I had a A4 I would go 4500 yank and build the tranny and put a 10qt pan on it. That may be the answer a bigger pan more oil and cooler tranny. Just my .02 cents.

Well my foot never ever leaves the gas!!! My wife is always yelling at me because I drive to fast everywhere. Bruce you think a 4500??? I am planning on gettting an external cooler. But am still wondering what kind of stall speed...... when I spoke with YANK a few months back they recomended a 3300 series. I'm not to good with the whole torque converter lingo.... due to the fact that 99% of the cars I've ever owned were manuals. What exactly does stall speed do? If I get to high of one will my tires roast every time I leave the line? That's how I interperated it. Just some questions I had inside my head at the moment.

It sounds like you got it all wrong. True your tires will roast if you set it up wrong however if you like RPM's upgrade to a manual valve body and shift kit. Keep in mind you must shift it now overdrive is 4th gear @ a stoplight I would go with 4500 because I live on the edge and would be running a very big cam not very streetable but I am sure it would launch and I could rebuild the tranny in the winter. Wide open is good but what speed do you cruise at? For instance I cruise at 100 MPH the converter must have at least a 200 RPM lower lock up stall speed to be safe and prevent slipping(heat) and that would depend on rear gearing. If you want quick ET low gears high stall is the rule shifting at max HP and cathing the next gear at max torque your car could run 12's. Keep in mind long term autobahn driving at 3500 RPM's would put wear on stuff. So a 3300 sound streetable with a bigger pan or external cooler. I have done some homework on this and it really depends on you. once again only my .02 cents

Jr
What is your max torque right now and at what rpm?
Your max torque at said rpm is really the governing factor.
If you miss match your stall speed to your max torque @said rpms too much, you may hve a YUGO beating you at the lights.

here is my take on TorqueConverters since I used to have a few.
The car 67 Ford Galaxie. transplanted with a 428 CI

max torque then was 505 @ 2800 RPMs
max Horsepower was 385 @ 5400 rpms
It was a little bit torquey to say the least.
The car with the stockconverter did the 1/4 in 13.8
The Car with a 3600 rpm TC did it in 14.2
The Car with a 2600rpm TC did it in 13.5
Take into account this was a 4400 lb car 2.73 gears and a C6 auto, you can see there was plent of room for going faster.

SIde notes with the 3600 was it was always sliping through the TC till it finally hit its stall. off idle driving it would finaly stalll at about 2800 rpms.

The car with the 2600 stall was almost like driving with a normal converter at off idle. that is until yuo hit.

But that was an old school car ,as compare to yours nothing may apply. But the general knowledge is the same.

Good info. That is pretty much what I was told. I used to think the higher the stall the better, not true. Depends on the car. Anyway, later. Mike

Holy cow Info over load!!!!! First I want to start off by saying thanks for all of the info!! I really appreciate it! Bruce my cruiseing speed is about 100 on the A-BAHN.... sometimes a little more when I'm following the club somewhere because when the weathers nice everyone is doing about 120 - 130, but this is my last summer here so I'm not to concerned about A-BAHN cruiseing. Roy, I have no clue what my torque is right now.... I can't find a dyno anywhere around here to test it on........ All I know is the stock # and if I remember correctly it is only about 315? But don't quote me on that..... all I know is my car cruises alot faster than when I first bought it. I am definately thinking of a bigger pan and an external cooler for sure now.... I don't want to rick burning up anything. I just get lost with all of the #'s sometimes........ From what I have heard and talked to some other people as well they say to keep my car still streetable is to use a 2600 stall...... But I am definately going to do some more checking first... I want the most performance I can get. I am planning on getting a new cam soon.... but I want to wait so I can match it up with my T.C. or vice versa. Once again thanks for all of the help! Talk to you all later!

lock up converters make less heat also.