I'm getting my tranny rebuilt this week and I'm looking at getting a new converter. Been looking at the "TCI Saturday Night Specials"and the "TCI 11" Break-A-Way" . The Break-A-way one says that it will give about 1000 more rpm stall speed than stock. What is the stall speed of a stock converter?? Are these good converters? I don't want much over 2100 stall, because I'm running a mild cam and no headers, I'm hoping to find a set of 3.70's or so for the rear someday but I still want to be able to drive the car with the 2.79's for awhile. Thanks Russ
According to my 73 book the 11 1/4 in is 1650 to 1875, there is a 10 1/4 out of a 4cyl Pinto that stalls at 2400 to 2600 but it has a small bolt pattern and the flexplate is hard to find for it( could maybe have one drilled?) The TCI is a good one, used a 3000 street fighter once and with the motor I had would flash at 2800. Have used B&M, PTC and the best and still using after several years is a Fairbanks 4000. Don't know if they still make them or not. I think you will be happy with the break away for the money and your present setup. Forgot to tell you that if your rebuilder can get one have him replace your A or B servo with an H model. Will help prolong trans life and clamp the band with quicker and more pressure than the A's or B's.
Old Guy, I'm not sure if we're talking about the same thing but I have a couple of Mustang II V-8 converters flexplates and blockplates around for added clearance in different body styles and they usually stall around 1800-1900. It is the extra small setup for C-4's made for M-II's only. I tried to put one in my '77 Mav and it wouldn't fit since the starter is farther under the engine and it hit on my power steering. Might work if I didn't have the power steering though. Just had to ask since I'm still learning Fords. Russ, thanks for the Question since I wanted this info myself, I was looking at the same converter and had same question.
Stall One of the most argued subjects on earth, because of several different factors, the same converter installed behind different engines will produce a variety of stall speeds. Ford part #D20p-7902-AA with BV ID #, is a 2.01:1 stall ratio, if used on a 250, Ford says it will stall at 1650-1850 or with a different C4 # 1675-1875. Then with a 302 they claim 1850-2050. This is listed as a 11 1/4 diam. Have not used any of the M II stuff but don't quite understand the starter problem, if the smaller converter and flexplate are use with an appropriate bell housing the starter location should be the same as any other 302. Like I said have not used any of these combo's so would appreciate any details on them as #'s etc. Never have had a converter stall at the exact speed that is given by the mfg. Darn close on some and way off on others. Torque output is a real dilema because of factors involved. Even a dyno'd engine installed in a certain car probably will not react on the converter the same as advertised because of trans, tire size, rear gear and a million other things. Best route for me is to talk to a pro converter guy and give him every piece of info on engine and vehicle combo, then let him recomend which to get. Even then most of the mfg. I dealt with will offer to redo the thing(tighten or loosed it up) for free or small chg. if you are not satisfied with results when installed. The TCI over the counter one's will probably work for a street/strip application just fine, but for a strip only as I use, custom made to try and gain that extra tenth or better, is what I perfer. Never to old to learn
77Mav302 Thanks for getting me to look up this info, the M II does use a whole different bell than any other C4. That is why I like this board, new and interesting info all the time. Thanks again. Check this out, http://mmerlinn.tripod.com/trans/fdc4f/fd6c4bhm.htm
Old guy thanks for all of the info. I want to go conservative because, what I want to end up doing is keeping my 2.79's and have another pumpkin with say 3.73's or maybe even 4.11's for local driving and maybe a trip to the track. but if I ever decide to drive this thing to Indiana, I want to be able to put the 2.79 back in for the long haul. Again thanks for the info. Russ
Just remmeber that the converter will not perform the same behind those different ratios, that 's why the converter company will ask you what gear you are running so they can match the converter up.
Thanks old Guy, I am familiar with that site. I twice bought bellhousings from the company that maintains the site. I had a converter without a bell I e-mailed them and they found it for me in their stock. Pricey, but they always had what I need. And I apologize if it seemed as if I was trying to argue stall, I understand that the same converter will stall different behind same engine with different cams, etc. I was just wondering if the Pinto converter you were mentioning could bolt to the V-8 M-II flexplate.
No apologies needed, we all are just asking questions for info and application stuff. As far as the Pinto converter I just don't know, they have been used for rebuilds and new mounting tabs welded on for different applications. One of the local trans parts suppliers told me the other day that they won't sell anymore converters over the counter because to many people return them complaining they won't stall at the advertised rate. Also had a mfg. figure out the needed stall for my sons car, gave him all the required info etc. The thing never even came close to what it should be(250.00 one) went to another supplier and gave him the same specs, worked like a champ but cost 495.00. Just one of those things we have to work out in our world of performance.
