Torque converter Which one?

[csnider]

Thanks for the info Buffalo...

It's good to hear both the pros and the cons about these TCs. . I don't think I'd like all that drag from a TC while I'm stopped at a light or in slow traffic... .

Chuck

 

[mudcat]

I had an ATS stage 4 in my 94 you are right they are a real nice setup. But you are comparing a $600 TC to a $6000 full on transmission. I would love to have an ATS with lock up in my 92 but the cost is too prohibitive to me. I like my Hughes converter and it performs as well as to be expected as far as a $600 converter goes. I don't pull in the hills like you westerners do.

I don't push through a stop sign with my converter if I let off the brake yes it will creep forward but what vehicle doesn't. It does not do any worse than any other vehicle I have driven. But when I stomp the skinny pedal it will either go or spin the rear tires usually both. That is pretty good fluid coupling. I am sure just about any other converter brand will perform similar. Lock up converter would be great but that seems to be a whole new ball of wax or money I should say. I will agree there is nothing like shifting while locked up in a good running Cummins. What a blast. :-laf

 

[cerberusiam]

I am sure just about any other converter brand will perform similar

Thats just the problem, all converters are NOT created equal. The cheaper converters almost always lower the stall bot don't increase the fluid coupling enough. Buffalo's experience just points out where the pitfalls are and what the results can be. Before you buy any converter a long conversation with the builder about how they can provide a lower stall AND better fluid coupling is warranted. IMO, it does no good to have a converter that will stall lower and still slips so bad it limits top speed under a load. The problem is still not fixed and the temps are gonna be high.



There is a reason DTT, ATS, etc get the $$ for the converters. They did the R&D and have a unit that works and works correctly.



Converting to a lockup trans is not a big chunk of money all at once if you do it right. In 2 weeks my truck will have a 47RH for about $1500. Granted its a used trans but I have 90 days to see if it has a weak spot.



From here on in it gets expensive but I don't have to drop 6 big ones all at once. It ain't a "somethin for nuthin" game. You wants to play, you has to pay.

 

[Buffalo]

Hughes TC

Once again, in no way do I mean to flame Hughes TC. I think there is a good possibility that my experience was one of their early efforts in building a TC for a diesel. My understanding is that TC's for diesels have to work differently than those for gassers. Dodge didn't have a good TC for their diesel powered trucks and some would say they still don't. The aftermarket companies had to try to figure out how to build TC's that will work properly, behind a diesel.

My mistake was not to have taken it back to be redone. It probably would have been a good learning experience for Hughes. They would have learned more and I would have been happier. I didn't know anything about TC's at the time and thought that was as good as it was going to get.

MUDCAT: I'm glad your experience with Hughes TC's has been a good one. Obviously, they have learned quite a bit about how to build TC's properly. That's a good thing! The more quality products out there for us, the better.

CSNIDER: The low stall speed creep (drag) seems to have been taken care of. MUDCAT isn't having that problem, at all.

Hope this helps. Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[csnider]

Installed!

Well,

i got my Dodge back together with the new Hughes 15XFM TC. . While I had the transmission out I put in a aluminum accumulator piston and adjusted the pump and bands per HDM48 guidelines. . Thanks for the info Dave!! shifts great... .



The new TC makes a huge difference in the way my truck drives . . I love it. I should of done this earlier!. . Doesn't seem to drag anymore than the stock TC at idle but give it just a tiny bit of fuel and it gets moving right now. you don't have to rev it to get it going like before. .

freeway speeds are maintained at about 250 rpms less than before and speed is way better maintained on hills. I'm cruising 70 mph @ 1900 rpms. takes a lot less throttle accross the board. . Night and day difference on the onramp . Wow. . I don't have a trans-temp guage but I'm sure it's running cooler cause I'm definetly not pushing through the TC like before and I also installed a B&M deep aluminum pan from Summit Racing($136) Highly reccomended . . Sano, even came with a filter!. .

At Hughes I dealt with Mike from their Tech line. Real nice guy, He owns a cummins as well so he knew what I wanted and how it would work out. . I had to send my TC to them cause they don't have any on the shelf but it was done the same day it arrived. not too shabby. I paid $299 + shipping. . got to be the best mods I've done yet... . Haven't towed yet but I'm sure it'll be a better experience as well... I think my jonesing for a lock-up is quenched now. . I'm Happy!!... ... .

 

[Firstgenfanantic]

Well,

i got my Dodge back together with the new Hughes 15XFM TC. . While I had the transmission out I put in a aluminum accumulator piston and adjusted the pump and bands per HDM48 guidelines. . Thanks for the info Dave!! shifts great... .



The new TC makes a huge difference in the way my truck drives . . I love it. I should of done this earlier!. . Doesn't seem to drag anymore than the stock TC at idle but give it just a tiny bit of fuel and it gets moving right now. you don't have to rev it to get it going like before. .

freeway speeds are maintained at about 250 rpms less than before and speed is way better maintained on hills. I'm cruising 70 mph @ 1900 rpms. takes a lot less throttle accross the board. . Night and day difference on the onramp . Wow. . I don't have a trans-temp guage but I'm sure it's running cooler cause I'm definetly not pushing through the TC like before and I also installed a B&M deep aluminum pan from Summit Racing($136) Highly reccomended . . Sano, even came with a filter!. .

At Hughes I dealt with Mike from their Tech line. Real nice guy, He owns a cummins as well so he knew what I wanted and how it would work out. . I had to send my TC to them cause they don't have any on the shelf but it was done the same day it arrived. not too shabby. I paid $299 + shipping. . got to be the best mods I've done yet... . Haven't towed yet but I'm sure it'll be a better experience as well... I think my jonesing for a lock-up is quenched now. . I'm Happy!!... ... .

I wish I could pick your brain more about this converter... ... . it's stories like these that made me decide to go with the Hughes Converter 15XFM. If you happen to read this... ..... I hope you can explain more about your before & after experiences with this converter. Thanks