What do the various converters actually measure?

[turbojimmy]

Hi all,

This one is for the pros, I think. If you don't want to hear the story, the question is at the end.

I'm having an issue with a well known trans rebuilder that I won't name (pssssst.....check my sig). Now I haven't actually talked to the guy to see what we can do, but I'm anticipating a lot of ugliness. In preparation for our "discussion", here's the deal:

In Sept '01 I bought a new trans from the vendor. They used (I hope) my BRF valve body and other pertinent parts. The case and other stuff looks brand new. I needed/wanted a new converter. He suggested a "9-inch billet" converter for $800. I knew this was really steep (about 25-30% more than if I ordered one from anyone else), but since he had the car and the trans and the warranty would likely be void if I didn't have him install the converter I told him to go ahead and do it.

Picked the car up, there was a yellow trans dipstick where my nice, stock gray one was. Hmmmmmm. He says "you had the wrong dipstick in there". I thought that was odd because the one that was in there looked just like the nice, gray oil dipstick and this one looks nothing like it. Plus, as I found out later, it has MOPAR stamped on it. To make a long story short, I believed him because he's the trans guy and I'm not. Later, after I overfilled the trans 3 quarts and it puked trans fluid all over the bottom of my car, I realized that it was indeed the wrong dipstick. They sent me the right one.

I had the #5 rod bearing go a couple of weeks ago. I pulled the motor out this past Saturday. While unbolting the converter, it looked kinda big, but laying underneath to the untrained eye, maybe it really is a 9". Silly me. Lifted the motor out, and there it was - much bigger than a 9" converter. According to my measurements, it's about 11.25" at its narrowest point, might be 11.5" at its widest point.

The question is... When you measure a "9-inch" or "12-inch" converter, are the measurements right on the money, or are they within a certain margin? The only really accurate way for me to measure the diameter was to put a piece of string around it to get the circumference and apply some 8th grade geometry (which I had to search the Web for) to get to the diameter. The formula confirmed my eyeballing-it-with-a-ruler method - it's about 11" or bigger.

The converter also has a "Pro Torque" sticker on it. I went to their web page. They have a 9.5", 10.5", and 12" converter for the 2004R. Could a "10.5" actually be 11.5"? If so, retail price on that is $695, I'm sure my vendor picks them up a lot cheaper. Charging me $800 is a pretty fat margin, if that's even the converter I got. I'm thinking I have the 12".

So, I should have a lively discussion today with said vendor. Wish me luck.

Jim

 

[turbojimmy]

Hey whaddya know. I answered my own question. The measurement in inches, I’m told, refers to the turbine. In the case of my converter (I talked to the guy that made it), it’s a 10.5”. Still not a 9”, but not a 12” as I feared.

I’m not sure how much difference it makes performance-wise, but I asked for and was charged for a 9” but got a 10.5”. Now the question is do I care? It works okay, but I think I’m pissed that I didn’t get what I paid for. I’m thinking that if I was told it was a 10.5” not a 9” I would’ve questioned the $800.

Any opinions?

Jim

 

[MeanBuicks]

It may have been prudent to find out EXACTLY what converter you would be getting for that kind of money before you agreed to it. While that's not the most expensive converter built for these cars, or any car for that matter, it is on the high side.

Luckily, you got a good name converter, but it could have just as easily been some unknown, off brand. Still, it looks like the builder may have done well with his margin on that.

 

[turbojimmy]

Originally posted by MeanBuicks
It may have been prudent to find out EXACTLY what converter you would be getting for that kind of money before you agreed to it. While that's not the most expensive converter built for these cars, or any car for that matter, it is on the high side.

Luckily, you got a good name converter, but it could have just as easily been some unknown, off brand. Still, it looks like the builder may have done well with his margin on that.

It is indeed on the high side, but when he told me it was his "PTS 9-inch billet", I figured it was one of theirs. I thought they made them there, being Level10 and all. I think I let my guard down because of their reputation.

It's a great converter, just not what I bought and more expensive than it should have been. I just wish he'd have leveled with me on exactly what it was. He said it was a 9", and it's not - that's all.

I'm just going to keep it and keep my mouth shut. It's too much hassle to try to exchange it and I'm not sure a 9" would buy me much more.

Thanks for the reply,
Jim

 

[WE4]

MAN!!!!

"PTS" 9" Billet? Hrmmm sound familiar? That friggin guy!

 

[turbojimmy]

Re: MAN!!!!

Originally posted by WE4
"PTS" 9" Billet? Hrmmm sound familiar? That friggin guy!

Oh yeah....sorry about that. Didn't mean to open that can 'o worms back up. It's ALL PTS on his site, as you know.

We know who the real PTS is, tho

I might've blown this converter thing out of proportion, but it still bugs me. Trans works great, though, so I guess I'll let it lie. Too bad the car has spent 6 of the last 8 months of the 1-year warranty up on jackstands.

Jim