Torque Converter Lock-up

[Doobie1]

Can someone explain extactly what Torque Converter lock-up is, and what it feels like.

Im getting a PI Stall Converter and wanna make sure I tell my installer pointers befroe he starts the install, anyone have any, I know we got to change the shift points on my chip

[grampaws]

Torque converter lockup is for fuel mileage.the engine and trans

are essentially connected together as if you had a clutch..stall
is when the torque converter is approaching this one to one ratio..
If the housing impeller is turning faster than the trans impeller you get
torque multiplication(less fuel mileage /better acceleration) this is before
the stall rpm...the engine can rev faster than the transmission input and
causing more torque to be applied to the input shaft of the trans..
the higher the stall speed of the troque converter the longer you stay
in the torque multiplication mode(before the stall) and the longer your
acceleration will stay at its peak.:D clear as mud.
you should not be able to feel anything...
Put some oil in the converter and lube the seal surface(spout)..
gently spin it as you insert it into the front of the trans to align
the splines..:)

[Smokie]

Torque converter lockup is for fuel mileage.the engine and trans

are essentially connected together as if you had a clutch..stall
is when the torque converter is approaching this one to one ratio..
If the housing impeller is turning faster than the trans impeller you get
torque multiplication(less fuel mileage /better acceleration) this is before
the stall rpm...the engine can rev faster than the transmission input and
causing more torque to be applied to the input shaft of the trans..
the higher the stall speed of the troque converter the longer you stay
in the torque multiplication mode(before the stall) and the longer your
acceleration will stay at its peak.:D clear as mud.
you should not be able to feel anything...
Put some oil in the converter and lube the seal surface(spout)..
gently spin it as you insert it into the front of the trans to align
the splines..:)I agree with ^^^ above, if you want to know when it locks up, drive your car at a gradually increasing speed until you are in 4th gear and watch your rpm's after the shift into 4th they will be about 250 rpms higher until the converter locks-up and you will see an rpm drop while you are going at the same speed, remember this is after the 3rd to 4th shift.:)

[ctrcbob]

What does it feel like? It feels like an extra shift, as if you had a five speed auto vice a four speed auto. Sometimes, it's hard to tell the difference between the 3-4 shift and the converter lockup. One way to tell, while at a stop, push button to lock out fourth gear. (OD Off). Then start up slowly, and notice that car will shift 1-2, then 2-3. At about 30mph, the torque converter will lock up and feel like an extra shift. When you get to around 40mph, push button to remove the fourth gear lock-out, and you will feel the car shift into fourth.

Now, if you do the same thing, but without the OD Off, you will again feel the
1-2, 2-3, lockup and 3-4 shifts.

Note this is all at easy throttle from a stop. When you stomp on it, everything happens at different speeds.

[Doobie1]

Oh ok so only thing we have to do is change the shift points when putting in the PI converter right?

[Smokie]

What does it feel like? It feels like an extra shift, as if you had a five speed auto vice a four speed auto. Sometimes, it's hard to tell the difference between the 3-4 shift and the converter lockup. One way to tell, while at a stop, push button to lock out fourth gear. (OD Off). Then start up slowly, and notice that car will shift 1-2, then 2-3. At about 30mph, the torque converter will lock up and feel like an extra shift. When you get to around 40mph, push button to remove the fourth gear lock-out, and you will feel the car shift into fourth.

Now, if you do the same thing, but without the OD Off, you will again feel the
1-2, 2-3, lockup and 3-4 shifts.

Note this is all at easy throttle from a stop. When you stomp on it, everything happens at different speeds.You are not going to feel it, you will see an rpm drop of about 200-250 rpm on your tachometer, your speed remains the same.....don't get in a wreck staring at the tach. ok.:D