High Performance Stall Torque Converter - anyone have this?

[Jeff K]

I recently acquired my second D.. an 81 Stage II with an auto trans. I'm underwhelmed with the off the line performance. I think my bone stock '83 5 speed seems way quicker. I know the auto has 3 speeds and not 5, but I thought the Stage 2 would make up for it.

Don and Danny mentioned a high performance converter that should help.

Does anyone have one of these and can comment?

Thanks in advance!

Jeff

[Nicholas R]

I cant imagine it'll make enough of a difference to justify the time and cost. I mean think about it. All it's really going to do is give you a more efficient power transfer from the engine to the transmission. No torque converter is going to do that as effectively as a clutch and flywheel, and even the manual Stage II's aren't flying off the line. I know my (Stage I) car with an auto dynoed right around 100 hp and my friends comparable car with a manual transmission was right around 110-115. So maybe with a better torque converter it would bring my numbers up 5-10hp. You could assume the same could be said if both cars were Stage II's instead. Is it REALLY worth all the time, money, and effort?

Personally, if I were going to do serious work, I'd swap the engines between the two cars. That way the manual gets the fun of the stage II. (but that's just me, lol)

Good luck!

[David T]

To my knowledge there is no one who has such a piece. Any shop that rebuilds torque converters can modify the stall speed to anything you want. The "trick" is to guess what stall speed you want. If you guess wrong you have to take it all apart and have the converter done again. This can get costly. The only other "performance" thing you can do is to replace the original plastic thrust washer with a brass one while you have the torque converter apart.
David Teitelbaum

[Jeff K]

To my knowledge there is no one who has such a piece. Any shop that rebuilds torque converters can modify the stall speed to anything you want. The "trick" is to guess what stall speed you want. If you guess wrong you have to take it all apart and have the converter done again. This can get costly. The only other "performance" thing you can do is to replace the original plastic thrust washer with a brass one while you have the torque converter apart.
David Teitelbaum

Thanks David, I appreciate the info. Does DMC make a brass thrust washer? If not do you know who does?

Jeff

[David T]

The shop that rebuilds the T/C will supply the brass washer. It is nothing weird or "special".
David Teitelbaum

[fnzen]

Jeff,

I now have an auto Stage 2 with a 2500 rpm stall converter from DMCCA

I gotta say there is a noticable difference with the whole set up , no it does not burn rubber but I definately feel it,

Give me a shout we can meet up Im up in Simi but can drive out somewhere to meet you if you want to check it out.

[Jeff K]

Jeff,

I now have an auto Stage 2 with a 2500 rpm stall converter from DMCCA

I gotta say there is a noticable difference with the whole set up , no it does not burn rubber but I definately feel it,

Give me a shout we can meet up Im up in Simi but can drive out somewhere to meet you if you want to check it out.

Thanks, I really appreciate that! Can you Pm me your number? I work in Woodland Hills.