torque convrters?

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I am lookin for a really good TC, from the Pro-Loc by SunCoast ad, they seem very good. An other good ones out there, with good performance and good stall rpm.

 

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Guy if you want the best tc and vb look no further than a fellow tdr member Bill Kolondlay's stuff. And you will save some $$$$ while your at it call 1-800-922-7782. For group purchase deals go to: http://www.qix.net/~mcelrath/

 

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I too have the Suncoast. Only because the TC and Valve body by Bill Kondolay were not available when my transmission fried. I too would recommend looking into Bill's goods first. Top notch person with the (Dodge transmission) experience to back him up.

 

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BD and Dunrite, both TDR advertisers, also make good converters. Call them and lt them discuss their products' features, then decide.

For example, the BD trans and converter were used by Autowurks in setting the low e. t. for a diesel pickup recently--as reported in this forum. If you know Piers, you have another example of how the BD stuff holds up under "abuse" errrr, excuse me, Piers, I meant "fully functional usage". #ad

 

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<font color=blue>Heres some converter people (in no particular order) :

• Dave Goerend
• Bill K.
• Dunrite
• Protorque
• Suncoast
• BD

If you want phone numbers or emails or websites (if they have them) post back here and I will look them up for you. Their is no one "best" converter. Each has its pros and cons so you have to talk to these people and decide which is best for your application and intended use.

If I left out a major provider of converters I apologize, the ones listed above were just the ones that came to mind.

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• <font color=blue>
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[This message has been edited by KatDiesel (edited 10-05-2000). ]

 

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Jacob082:

I concur with what "KatDiesel" already
told you. The manafacturers that he
listed all are good choices.

One point of caution to you using
myself and "KoaMan" as examples. Be
careful about buying any torque
converter that is "too tight"(low
stall speed). KoaMan installed one
with a 1425 stall speed and mine is
a "ProTorque" with a 1600 stall speed.
On a stock or slightly above stock
horespower rating we both had off-line
"flat spots" or "lags" until the
TC'S got up to their "rated RPM. "
We both ended up installing 370
Diamond B marine injectors to solve
the off-line "flat spot. "

As "KatDiesel" said "there is no
one best TC. " I am very happy with
my "ProTorque" now that I have the
power to put through it!

If you go back to the "12 Valve
Engine and Drivetrain" archives
I posted under the title "BD
Pressure Loc. " There is alot of
good responses there Jacob and
another title that was good was
"Torque Converter or Valve Body?"

Hope this has helped you!

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Red '96 4x4 2500 Auto 3. 54, TST #5, Pump Mods, Banks Exhaust, Prime Loc, Cummins Chrome Kit, Pro-Torque Converter, BD Valve Body, Sendel 16" Alum Wheels w/ 33" BFGs

 

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Jacob:

My two cents, I'd go with the Suncoast converter. All things being the same, these guys are tops, will stand behind their product, and know racing inside and out. Joe Webb, the owner, is one of the most terrific people you'll ever meet. They don't come any finer. I had a problem with the first converter I bought from them because I specified a stall speed that was too low for the truck. I drove down from Atlanta, spent the night in Ft. Walton Beach, and spent the day with Joe Webb tooling around town while they replaced the torgue converter with a new model. I met Joe, his wife, his oldest son, and Joe's partner in the torque converter business, Ron Wolverton.

They made me feel like a king while I was there, taking me out to lunch (picking up the tab) and making a fuss over me, while answering all my questions. I got a tour of the plant (impressive) and met their head mechanic, too. "Ernie," the guy who worked on my truck (and head mechanic) races these trucks on the weekend. Joe Webb is a Cummins fanatic, too, and bought two Cummins (B5. 9) marine diesels a year ago to retrofit a 50' Sport Fisherman boat that he keeps at his dock. He took me out on the boat, and it is immaculate.

I know I sound like a cheerleader, but this is a wonderful company; a family business that has paid off because the owner believes in doing things right, treating people fairly and having fun in life, too.

After installing the new converter, Joe, Ron and Ernie spent an additional three hours driving the truck, adjusting the line pressure and tweaking things until it was just perfect. This truck is developing over 400 horsepower and has been driven VERY HARD for over 35000 miles since the converter was installed. I change the transmission fluid about every 15,000 miles and it is always pink and clean as a whistle.

Joe bought a new 2000 to use as a test bed, and they've put every conceivable converter into that truck by now. It gets raced, under all sorts of conditions, all the time. They know what works and what doesn't work.

For my money, Suncoast Converters are the very best. A couple hundred dollars more, but they are bullet proof and these folks will stand behind their product -- no questions asked -- for as long as you drive your truck.

They also have a great relationship with "Dave" at Trans-go (Shift Kit designers) and all of the other "go fast" vendors.

SunCoast 800-868-0053

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97 2500 4x4, club cab, auto, 3. 54 limited slip, JRE 4" exhaust, Dr. Performance Fuel system (370 HP), "Twister Turbo," Geno's guages -- Boost, EGT, transmission & Rear -- MAG Hytec covers, SunCoast Converter/Transgo shift kit, Brite Box, tons o'chrome under hood, Prime Loc, EZ Drain, Seat covers, wood dash, Rancho Suspension, Warn M12000 Winch on Warn Brush Guard, Warn driving and fog lights, Hella twin back up lights, 285/75/R16 B. F. G. ATs on Mickey Thompson "Classic" rims; Linex bed liner, BD exhaust brake.

 

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Jacob, all the above posts are leading you strait. Check them all out. Make sure to give Dave Goerend a call also, then buy what makes you feel good.
John_P's TC hooks up real good and I know for a fact he's happy!! He keeps coming to town and trying to beat up on my little truck!! #ad
#ad
!! Pete

 

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Heh Pete:

If you keep towing that heavy trailer
with the "Ditch Witch" on it you may
be taking a trip to Ft. Walton Beach,
Florida or possibly St. Lucas, Iowa!!
That stock TC is NOT going to hold
up to that "you know what!!"

 

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What Ditch Witch are you talking about?? #ad
#ad
?? Pete #ad

 

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Pete:

Maybe I have it wrong. That big
piece of "construction equipment"
or whatever that you said you tow
for your brother-in-law or friend.
The day before I went on vacation
(you had a cold)I came to see you at the house and you said "you
were waiting for him to call to go
tow it for him. "

 

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Pete:

Maybe I have it wrong. That big
piece of "construction equipment"
or whatever that you said you tow
for your brother-in-law or friend.
The day before I went on vacation
(you had a cold)I came to see you at the house and you said "you
were waiting for him to call to go
tow it for him. "

 

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OH!! That little thing #ad
#ad
Thats my son's tractor, not bunch bigger than a weed eater!! Pete

 

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Jacob,
What you should first ask your self is what do I want my converter to do?

Am I looking for simply a low stall converter? What does that mean?

Am I looking for a converter that pulls?

Am I looking for a converter to race with?

Is reliability as important to me as well as performance?

Am I looking for a TC that transfers the power of the Cummins to the ground?

Do I understand what the differences are between converters so I can choose the best application for me?

If you don’t know the answers to some of the above questions chances are you wont be completely happy with any converter.

A torque converter is the fluid coupling between the engine and the transmission. In other words it is the means by which the power is transferred from the engine to the transmission to put the power to the ground.

When choosing a TC I keep the following things in mind. The weak link in a TC is the Clutch lining. It doesn’t matter who’s TC you buy including mine, if you use devices to force the TC to remain locked up during acceleration it will cause premature TC failure.
You may as well buy the cheapest one you can find because you need a few of them in the long run.

For most of you guys that are towing comparing yourselves to the guys racing their trucks doesn’t make sense. The majority of trucks doing the racing promos and playin around are not towing the massive 5th wheel trailers.

Milled stator converters or (low stall converters) have sacrificed the fluid coupling and torque multiplication by milling away the veins. By taking away the fluid coupling you have made the TC less efficient and in turn it is able to transfer LESS HP to the ground, hence the drag when you accelerate.

SEE PICTORIAL EXAMPLE of TC STATOR’S !
click here

Keeping in mind the weak clutch lining problem and the milled stator consequences we chose to Re-engineer and manufacture a steel stator that needs no lock up devices for acceleration.
So in my opinion you need to know what you want your TC to do and what the TC you decide to purchase is mechanically capable of doing.
Bill

 

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I am looking for a good reliable way to beef up the auto to handle 400hp. I won't be pulling anything heavy. Would I be better off getting BD products or what, I plan to do some racing with my truck so which one is the best for me? Should I get a TC and shift kit or just get complete rebuilt transmission? I know I want to ave a clean oil pan, when I change my tansmision fliud.

 

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Jacob:

Get thee to the east, young man. Take I-10 across the country and head to Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, pronto. Hey, 740 miles is just a trip down the block for a hard driving Texan! I stayed at a Day's Inn for two nights; it cost me $32. 00 a night (right on the beach) for clean and quiet accomodations. Go now before "high (tourist) season. " Give yourself a well-deserved, early Christmas present. You can make the trip in one day, spend a couple of days (trust me, you'll have fun) as Joe and Ron's guest, get your truck squared away with the transmission work, and motor on home. Then you'll be in a position to beef up your engine (any way you want... ) without having to worry about breaking something...

Ernie, at Suncoast, will build you a transmission and install a torgue converter that will turn your truck into a world-beater. Very few outfits that build and market torque converters are also experts in the workings of the 747 Torque Flight transmission. Joe Webb runs a full time transmission shop; that's his first "profession," and he's as expert as they come. He can go through your existing transmission replacing and beefing up the clutches and coleens with heavy-duty competition components. That's what I had done with mine. A lot of folks have told me that this is "over kill," because, like you, I don't EVER plan to use my truck has a consistent, tow-vehicle, work horse. It's WAY TOO MUCH FUN smoking the wheel wells and embarrassing the living crap (sorry, "mom") out of Ford/Dodge V-10s, mustangs and vets. Forget about the other diesels; they're not even a challenge once you've put all that awesome torque to the ground.

Like I said, if you want a daily driver type truck that's manageable on wet streets, won't stall the engine every time you put it in reverse with the air conditioning on (too tight "low stall" torque converter), and also a truck that will provide years of dependable fun... I'd go with a combination like "Dr. Performance" and "SunCoast. "

There are cheaper alternatives to both, but no better ones. Remember that you're cruising around in a $40,000 machine -- one that deserves to be outfitted with the very best components which will provide you years of trouble-free service. Check out warranties before you start slapping stuff in your truck.

The old adage was never truer: "You get what you pay for. "

 

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<font color=blue>Jacob082 -

I can give you the same type of story that Sasquatch did about Suncoast, only mine would be about Dave Goerend. I spent two days at his shop poking around, learning this, learning that. But I am not going to tell the story because YOU need to call and talk to them yourselves so you can decide which is best for you.

 

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Kat-Dude,

I assumed he wanted the advice, and the "story," or he wouldn't have asked for it.

I'm guessin' he has access to all the modern conveniences -- like, say, a phone book.

PS. -- Don't hold back; let's hear "your story. " (propped on edge of seat, here... )

 

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I'll type it up at work tonight... . be leaving in a lil bit. I wasn't implying it was a "Story" I am merely trying to get him to call theses places and talk to them rather then just head to one place because of 1 experience listed here. He has to decide which converter suits his needs... . yours works for you great... . his needs are prolly not the same as yours.....

To be continued... . (later tonight from work)

 

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KatD. ,

Here are his words:

"I am looking for a good reliable way to beef up the auto to handle 400hp. I won't be pulling anything heavy. Would I be better off getting BD products or what, I plan to do some racing with my truck so which one is the best for me?"

I felt that was a pretty clear description of "his needs. " And I felt that they pretty closely matched my own -- even down to the horsepower he stated he was shooting for, and the desire to race his truck. I guess he could have been more specific; he didn't mention the brand of beer he drinks.

The point is, the forum is here for each of us to express his opinion. If our typical response was, "Gee, guy, why doncha pick up the ol' phone and make some calls, the vendors are in the Yellow Pages... ?" Well, let's just say the longevity picture for this thread -- or website -- would have a VERY short horizon.

Know what I mean, Vern?

The point is to have fun, share experiences, and shoot the s___t? Nobody's holding anybody's feet to the fire, here. Jacob will read everybody's "input," and do his own thing.

'Nuff said.