D5 converter vs. 9.5 inch converters......

[Realspool]

I have a PTE-44 Turbo,ESP CNC ported race heads,ESP front mount intercooler,009's,Jay carter chip.My converter is a modified stock D5 with a 3000 stall.I like the converters that have flash stall.The Vigilante 9.5 3200 single disc is one that im looking to buy.One of the main reasons I am buying is for better spool up and throttle response for the street.I have heard some guys with this converter saying that this converter gave them instant spool up and throttle without any turbo lag.The flash type stall converters have big advantages.The stock D5 from a dead stop you have to give it Rpm's to get it going fast and spool the turbo.I would rather from a dead stop without giving it any Rpm's get that instantaneous throttle and spool up.Any one here running this 3200 converter,9x11,Art Carr or something close and how much different did it affect the car's spool up and throttle response???

 

[chris718]

we use 3200 stall minimum 9/11s with that turbo and itll wake the turbo right up.we stock them for mosy applications.i test drive every job we sell and i can tell you youll love the performance and instant spool up.if it were me id use a 3400 stall .dont believe all the hype about it being too much for the street.this thing is a baby driving around town with no boost and when asked to supply stall itll respond under load instantaniously.period.gas mileage?no problem either ,youve got the lock up.this is a great convertor.do you have a factory camshaft?more stall = more boost,moreboost =more torque,more torque =more stall,more stall =more boost,more boost = more torque,more torque =maximum stall under maximum load.get the point?maximum stall =maximum pants ****ting.

 

[Realspool]

For the street though wouldn't a 3400 stall 9x11 converter give me severe traction problems with my PTE-44 Turbo??

 

[Realspool]

I don't know anyone running a 3400 converter for a TE-44 turbo on the street , but shouldn't a 3200 9x11 be awesome and give me instant spool and throttle??

 

[chris718]

based on my observances if you have a stock cam the 3200 will be ok but if you have a cam such as a 206/206 or 212 /206 i would certainly use the 3400.itll be great around town at low boost levels .reread my analogy in the above post.it is very informative once its meaning is understood.max performance 3400 flash and you are gone.

 

[Realspool]

Yes i do have the stock cam.One of the mistakes i should have done when i replaced the cylinder heads.So i guess i would be better off with the 3200 stall.Im not to familiar with the Hybrid converters like the Vigilante or 9x11 converters.Is the 9/11 converter a 9.5 inch single disc and can it be stalled higher if i upgrade my cam and or turbo????

 

[chris718]

it is a 9 inch on 1 side and 11 on the other.this allows high stall capabilities without limiting the size of the lock up disk amongst other things.it can be restalled .with a stock cam i would still use the 3400 because itll stall slightly lower and will respond well to the camshaft change in the future.you can also restall the 3200 if you decide to later.

 

[Realspool]

Since the car will rarely see the race track i would like it to have descent street manners.At around 60 mph would I be doing about 400 rpm's more with the 3400 converter compared to my stock modified 3000 converter??

 

[chris718]

no because the convertor will be locked.itll be the same as your d5.thats the beauty of a lock up convertor for a street driven car.

 

[justabuickv6]

Listen to Chris's advice. I did. Now my car is at least .5 tenths quicker.

Stock motor, heads, etc. THDP, and PT52 turbo. My 3600 9X11 loves it and I DRIVE IT EVERYDAY. Noticed only a couple of hundred RPM increase taking off from a light. Foot stall is another story. I love it!

I could not have purchased a better converter!

 

[chris718]

instaspool.im glad it worked out for you,i knew it would.

 

[Realspool]

I have heard of a few guys running a 3200 stall converter with a PTE-44 turbo but never a 3400 converter.I don't understand how this will not affect gas mileage and street manners especially a 3400 stall converter???I don't know what the diffrence is between a 9.5 Vigilante 3200 stall converter and a 3200 9/11???My car is mainly for every day driving thats why i don't want to put a converter in that I can't get traction on the street with BFG Drag Radials.In the future i might put a 206/206 or 205/210 cam in and maybe a te-60 turbo but that is only when my engine breaks so it could be a long time. So for right now Im just worrying about what i got and why should I go above a 3000 converter on the street for my PTE-44 turbo. I think maybe one of the reasons I have less bottom end torque is because I have CNC ported race cylinder heads.Although i have always heard that a good set of race cylinder heads should not affect bottom end power or torque at all??who Knows

 

[chris718]

a thing that should not be overlooked is that if you understand the rpm drop between gear changes with the factory 3.42 rear end you will find that the rpm and the convertor are being synchronized for maximum accelleration.also if you arent building boost when driving around town like a gentleman the convertor wil never stall that high and will not until it is loaded against a stationary input shaft and final drive.in my selection process i estimate 3200 against a stationary turbine shaft and final drive and 3400 the moment the brake is released and the turbine shaft begins to rotate and the inertia and other factors that usually result in a 200 rpm jump at this moment with upwards of 14 pounds of boost.do know i understand your concerns and i am only sharing with you what i have found by testing these things in a buick gn ,sometimes 2 a week ,with a 425 horsepower turbo regal that is part of our rolling test bed fleet .at 8 psi of boost a 3200 stall convertor might only introduce a 2900 rpm stall speed before overpowering the final drive and rear tires.

 

[Realspool]

One thing about my car is i had 3:73 gears installed but i currently have 28 inch tall BFG Drag Radials tires so i guess the ratio is more like a 3:50.Also alot of my bottom end power and torque is due to the car running rich.I finally bought a scanmaster and have not hooked it up yet.But I expect to see high o2 volts readings.So You reccomend the 3400 9/11 converter am i right?I just have heard for a pure everyday street car a 3000 should be the max and for a TE-44 turbo a 2800 converter should work great .If I did buy the converter I would need a transmission cooler with that right??Do you sell it.and how much for the converter? thanks Ray

 

[Rickracer]

Listen to Chris

I just have heard for a pure everyday street car a 3000 should be the max and for a TE-44 turbo a 2800 converter

That logic applies to non-lockup converters, and is quite true. Lockups are a horse of a different color though. I drove an 11 second BBC car on the street several days a week with a TH400, manual VB, & 3500 converter. If I had had OD and lockup, I'd probably still have that car. I doubt you'd notice any real difference as far as manners on the street between 3000 and 3400, until you mash the loud pedal and go for it. That's when the 3400 will blow the 3000 away. And there is no such thing as too much transmission cooler.

 

[justabuickv6]

I went from a stock D5 to a CK 9x11 3600 stall. I have a PT52 turbo. I notice about 200 rpm difference taking off at the light normal. Now if you power brake it, that's a whole different story.

I drive the car everyday. You need a good aftermarket tranny cooler and you'll be set. The converter locks up good on the highway. I haven't noticed any difference in gas mileage.

Thanks Chris for the advice and the converter

 

[Realspool]

Any one know the price on a 3400 9/11 torque converter from CK's??? thanks

 

[justabuickv6]

I paid $575

 

[chris718]

realspool ,i as a vendor cant post prices related to 2004rs,but that is the price.if you need any more info let us know.