Will a better converter help to reel in my shift point?

[BEATAV8]

I'm switching from a vigilante single disc to a PTC non lock as soon as the weather breaks. Seems logical to me that the improved torque converter coupling will help to reduce engine RPM on the shifts. Am I incorrect?

 

[Chuck Leeper]

Is the engine rpm not dropping on the shift??
A lock vs nonlock should have no influence. That's a matter of converter design/ vs engine performance.
Maybe call Dusty Bradford. He's a PTC dlr.

 

[BEATAV8]

Is the engine rpm not dropping on the shift??
A lock vs nonlock should have no influence. That's a matter of converter design/ vs engine performance.
Maybe call Dusty Bradford. He's a PTC dlr.

Hi Chuck,
RPM drop with the Precision was only ~350RPM, and slip through the traps was 20% unlocked and 13% locked @ 75MPH
I'm expecting a big improvement in RPM drop with my new PTC compared to the Precision unit, and I understand the lock / non-lock relationship. I'm just wondering if the better coupling down low will help to reel the engine in and keep in under control, or if the shift points will basically stay the same. For example, right now it shifts around 5800 on it's own. From what I understand, the shift point is dictated by throttle valve adjustment and the governor. But if those stay the same and the only change is the better converter, will it shift at a little lower engine RPM?

 

[MikeL.]

similar setup

...subscribed....you and I have similar engine combo's right down to the same single disk converter. I'd be willing to guess that the shift point will remain the same, however because of the better coupling/efficiency, you'll be running a higher mph at that shift point then you were with the single disk unit. Again, just a guess. I'll be curious to hear others chime in on this also.

 

[Dusty Bradford]

Every car is different but in some cases if a car shifts automatically at 5800 with a looser converter, it will shift a couple hundred rpm sooner with the more efficient converter. If you still want it to shift at 5800 it may require some work to the governer. It will take some test passes to see how it does. I always let the car shift at 5800 on the 1-2 and I manually shifted 2-3.

Expect your rpm drop to be ~1000 now.

 

[BEATAV8]

Every car is different but in some cases if a car shifts automatically at 5800 with a looser converter, it will shift a couple hundred rpm sooner with the more efficient converter. If you still want it to shift at 5800 it may require some work to the governer. It will take some test passes to see how it does. I always let the car shift at 5800 on the 1-2 and I manually shifted 2-3.

Expect your rpm drop to be ~1000 now.

Thanks Dusty that's what I was hoping to hear. If it shifts a little sooner with the new converter I think I'll be even happier and I think the engine will be too!

 

[Danster]

I too have the same converter and felt the converter was to loose. I would really like to hear back your results as I have been comtemplating purchasing a new converter.

Dannyo

 

[c&cgn]

FYI, The PTC converter lowered my shift points by a couple hundred rpm vs a looser, less efficient converter.