Torque Converters Explained: High Stall is a GOOD Thing
Recommended Reading: Torque Converter Selection – CHP How It Works
Do you know what a torque converter is? If you have an automatic transmission and you’re looking for more performance, you should. Chevy High Performance magazine has a great article about torque converters that beginners and non-beginners will find interesting.
Nice diagram of torque converter from Banks - click to see the original image
First, what’s a torque converter?
It’s not that a performance [torque] converter makes more power…what it does is allow your car to transfer power better. By raising the stall speed, or slippage, a performance [torque] converter raises engine rpm at launch, which increases power at launch. For example, if an engine makes 100 lb-ft of torque at 1,500 rpm and 175 lb-ft at 2,500, which would you rather have? With a higher-stall converter, your engine isn’t making any more power, but it’s allowing the motor to get to a place where it’s happier more quickly
Makes sense, right? The article mentions that “hot rods” benefit a lot from torque converters – more so than many other performance accessories. However, I think the use of the words “hot rods” is incorrect because that implies that only older vehicles can benefit. The fact is, brand new cars of all kinds could stand a torque converter upgrade. The article mentions that brand new 2010 Camaros are shaving half a second of the quarter mile going with a new torque converter.
That ain’t bad.
There are some downsides to a new torque converter, but nothing that a serious performance enthusiast will mind too much:
- First, there’s the expense (a few hundred for the part + a few hundred for labor).
- Second, torque converters don’t help fuel economy on daily drivers. By letting the engine rev higher before engaging, a higher stall torque converter can drop fuel economy
- Third, depending on how they’re tuned, you can get loose throttle response when you’re not racing.
If you have an automatic transmission and you’re concerned about performance – or if you’re a car geek like me and love to read – this is a good article.
Just installed a 2800 stall torque converter in my 1971 Nova 496 engine. There is NO slippage what so ever. Its just like putting a standard transmission in 1st. gear and letting out the clutch. I’ve been told that the stater may have rust (by setting on a shelf)and I might bring engine up to 2000 or 2500 rpm and dropping in gear and it may break loose. Or the company will send me a new torque converter. What are your thoughts. Thanks
Roger – Sounds like it’s not working as designed, which means you want to pull it and get a new one if you can. If you want to try breaking it lose, you may do damage to other components…but if it was me I’d probably try it and hope for the best.
I have a 2002 blazer , the transmision rattles after it warms up when vehicle is stoped , Changed filter and 5 out of the 11 or so quarts with dex/mer trani fluid and some improvment , pan had no metal and very little carbon clutch material , fluid was not burnt or discolored , 178000 mi . I checked the tc to flexplate bolts and they were tight , I think the sound is from the torque converter .