Torque Converter Mod?

[drkknight196]

I'd appreciate some up-to-the-minute advice on torque converters. How will it benefit my MM? Cost? Potential problems? Brand recommendations?

[Dennis Reinhart]

Go with PI and a 3000 stall call me I will have one on your door step

[SergntMac]

There ya go...Real 411 on this

"PI" means here...

http://www.converter.com/stallion.htm

"PI" does not mean "police interceptor."

Read this redirect, then call Dennis @ 904.276.5003.

That's the real 411 you need to know.

[drkknight196]

Thanks for the direct 411! OK, now what's the significance of stall speed, and lock up vs. non-lock up TCs? Excuse my ignorance ............

[SergntMac]

Originally posted by drkknight196
Thanks for the direct 411! Excuse my ignorance.

No such thing as "ignorance" here. You got a car in your driveway, we got your back, k?

What else do you want to know?

[drkknight196]

Definition and significance of stall speed?
Do all torque converters "lock up" at certain RPMs?
How would the installation of a PI TC affect driveability?

[mensrea]

Just to add some confusion to this discussion, PI MAY mean police interceptor, as in drifeshaft, PI may mean power improvement as in heads and or intake on a 4.6 SOHC.

It can be confusing so best thing to do is find out what it means for your specific part.

But the torque converter in question here is the Precision Industries brand.

Dennis, if they buy from you do they still get the free rework on the converter in the future?

[mensrea]

Ooops forgot to address dirvability issues, the PI converter requires you to use Mercron trans fluid, if you use synthetic it will not funciton properly... They told me that was due to the tight tolerances the converter was deisgned for, maybe they have loosened it up a little. Also, you ca program the lock up function through a chip, and that helps a ton. Talk to Dennis or one o fhte other chip providers and see if they can address the lock up issue.

When car and driver had my car they said the converter locked and unlocked all the time, we swapped the fluid a coupe of times back to mercron and the problem went away.

[martyo]

A few us had the TC locked through the change of programming on the chip. I just too a very long drive ion vary conditions with mine set up this way.

What did that ad used to say "Try it, you'll like it......."

[SergntMac]

Originally posted by drkknight196
Definition and significance of stall speed?
Do all torque converters "lock up" at certain RPMs?
How would the installation of a PI TC affect driveability?

I think the standard settings for the Stallion is 2800 stall and unlocked, but you can order it any way you wish. And, as Mensrea states, you get a free adjustment of the stall down the road, if you pay the two way shipping. The merkon fluid Mensreah mentions, is the native OEM fluid of the MM, so no worries there about custom blends.

You'll feel the difference right away, it's much like the difference between 3:55 and 4:10 gears. Very driveable, but leave the lock-up decision until you have driven it a while. Mine locks after the 2-3 shift, and in normal driving, that's about 2K RPM. I like my setup a lot, but you should experiment for your own comfort.

[drkknight196]

Sounds good, Sarge. Appreciate the 411. BTW, how difficult is it to change the lock up RPMs? Will the tranny have to be opened again, or is it simply a chip update?

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by drkknight196
Sounds good, Sarge. Appreciate the 411. BTW, how difficult is it to change the lock up RPMs? Will the tranny have to be opened again, or is it simply a chip update?


Chip. Since the early 80's, PCMs/ECMs have been the source of all lockup-clutch signals to the converter, before that you had a complicated series of vacuum lines and switches to determine when you were in the right gear and cruising long enough such as to induce a lockup of the clutch. And now with the electronically-controlled trannys, the shift points and firmness are PCM-controlled too!

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by drkknight196
Definition and significance of stall speed?
Do all torque converters "lock up" at certain RPMs?
How would the installation of a PI TC affect driveability?


I've posted some long-winded explanations on the operation of torque converters and the stall speed and lock up terms. I'm fairly certain a search will turn up a thread or two on the subject, but I seem to recall a post from NBCShooter about a hesitation at 3000-3500 RPM when accelerating.

If you have trouble finding it, I can have a look for it tomorrow.

[studio460]

The NBC Shooter post (and subsequent thread) that TripleTransAm is referring to is here:

Anyone "slipping" at 3200-3300RPM? (http://mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=24550#post24550)

[mensrea]

Be advised.... Precision Industries makes two levels of Stallion converters for our car, one around the 6-7 hundred range and then another above a grand.

IF you are planning on supercharging your car, or nitrous, or what ever, you really should look into the better of the two.

Here are the two choices

9 1/2 lock-up AODE, E4OD
Single Disc
2400-6000 RPM's

9 1/2 lock-up AODE
Multi-Disc 3 plate
2400-6000 RPM's

From what I can tell, the suppliers that sell their converters in the 6-7 range are selling the single disc converter... PI states that you need the triple plate for higher horse power applications.

I just ordered this converter for my Mustang (ya ya I know) and wanted to let you know there was a difference between the two, and also to let you know if you bought a PI Stallion, you might not have the triple plate converter...