Converters- Stock vs ??????

[KSHall]

I've got a 05 CTD and I'm contemplating a torque converter change to a Dunrite or a Suncoast or a BD or who ever converter. My question is how do they make the transmission/truck act, or what can I expect. To me the stock converter is just not right , they seem to be too "loose" and waste all that torque so I drive mine in Tow/Haul alot. What is your experiences?

 

[Dieselnerd]

It depends, they all have their differences. Diesels are hard to match to a torque converter because they make all their power at low rpms. With their high revving ability a gas engine works well with a looser converter. If you get a real tight TC your truck will want to keep going at stoplights and you have to keep your foot on the brake pretty hard. A really tight converter will also bog down when trying to get a heavy load moving. Dodge is not trying to get by cheaply with a loose converter, it's a compromise that works for most people. The 47RE in the second gens was a lot looser than the 48RE is. I had a tighter converter installed in my '96 with power upgrades and it worked well and I also had the rest of the transmission upgraded but I like the stock one in my '05 better. I don't think the money spent on modifying the TC on a stock truck will be worth the cost. If you have high power mods then you may need to upgrade the TC to handle the extra power but that's a whole different ball game.

 

[KSHall]

Well if not a converter upgrade how about a Tow-Lock from BD or a switch to lock the clutch in the converter? Once you get to 30 mph the converter locks up in Tow/Haul anyway but in town or towing out twisty back roads on the way to camp between 20-30 mph the transmission sure seems to "slip" alot because of the "loosness" of the converter. I'm stock now but plan to add a small box to get a little more umph, 60-100 hp 100-200 lb tq. Nothing to big, like a tow box from Quadzilla or some one else.

 

[zstroken]

Call Dave Goerend. He has several flavors of convertors. He has one that you have to stand on the brakes to hold it, and has one that requires just a little pressure. Single disks, triple disk, billet covers, non billet covers. You name it he makes it. Great VB too. Customer service second to none either