Advantage of Stall Converter??

[Black1986Beast]

OK, I know my car has one (it came with it) but what exactly does a stall converter do? and what is the advantage of a stall converter over a stock torque converter?? (especially at the speed of mine, 2400rpm)
Also what exactly is the difference between them??
How many of you drive your car daily that have a stall converter?
I've driven mine a few times since I bought it (don't have my license yet) and just realize that you gotta give it more gas to go where ya wanna go..so what's the real thing behind stall converters?
Thanks

 

[Mile Hi GN]

This is a good piece, from GN/TType

Torque Converters

 

[Steve Wood]

All converters could be called a stall converter...what we normally refer to as a higher stall converter is one that has a higher stall speed than a stock one.

In the simplest of terms, stall is that rpm you get if you stand on the brakes and floor the accelerator for a couple of seconds. It is how much the converter will slip before it insists upon either turning the tires or the rpm will not rise any further.

The advantage of a higher stall than stock would be to get the engine into its power band at launch so you can leave as fast as the tires will let you, or, in the case of bigger turbos, allow the engine to rev up enuf to generate enuf heat to spool the turbo and eliminate turbo lag when you hit the gas.

 

[machinegun]

Stall speed usually refers to the torque convertor in your transmission. This is the component that transfers the engines crank shaft power to the input shaft of the transmission. It is hard to really compare but think of it as a clutch. In actuallity is called a fluid coupler. Basically how it works. Take 2 fans. Face them at each other. Turn one fan on, the other spins from the force of the air movement. You now have a basic understanding of what the Torque Convertor (TC) does. The TC uses fluid rather than air to provide the the power transfer agent hence the name fluid coupler. Got it so far? If so then the stall speed is the max engine rpm where the TC tranfers the engine power output to the input shaft of the trans at its most efficient state of fluid movement to input shaft movement. It is kind of like letting out of the clutch. The more you do the faster the car goes until it is let all the way out. Now in a fluid coupler there is never a 1 to 1 relationship between the engine and input shaft of the trans like a clutch does. This is where the TCC or Torque Convertor Clutch comes into play. This is just like engaging the clutch on a car motorcycle or go kart. This does provide a one to one relationship between the engine output and tranmission input. Stall speed is usually checked by applying and holding the brakes. Step on th gas. The engine rpm at which the wheels start to move is your brake stall speed. This will usually be close to your true stall speed. I hope this helps.