AOD and lock up converter?
 

i was thinking a getting an AOD with a 2800-3200 lock-up connverter. does anyone have any thoughts or experience with the AOD and lock up stall converter?

Trany is a PA Auto that i am thinking about and a tci converter

I have a TCI 3000rpm lock up converter. Its an extreamly better converter then the stock converter. Though first and second gear its stalls around 3000rpms, but in third and fourth gear it locks up, and acts like the stock converter. Its suppose to save on gas and keep rpms lower at higher speeds. I don't really like the lock up feature though. I kinda wish I went with a non lock up for more performance, and that extra kick at higher speeds. PI (Precision Industries) is suppose to make great stall converters, but there on the expensive side. TCI isn't bad, not as good as PI, but a lot cheaper is money is a concern.

Also if your thinking of getting a new tranny, take a look at Lentech. There one of the best in automatic transmissions!

what gears are you running?

i have 3:73's, so that is the reason i thinking of a lock up converter at highway speeds.

the car is a 50/50 race/street car.

highway speed is the only reason i am even considering an AOD w/ lock up converter, if not then it would be a straight forward c-4 and converter

I'm running a PI 2800 non lock-up converter on my AOD. I run 3.73's as well. At 70 mph on the highway, I'm turning around 2500-2600 rpm.

The downside to a non locking converter other than increased gas use is increased heat. Be sure to get a tranny cooler.

Lentech also makes some good torque convrters, but they run about the same as PI's at near $700. Don't skimp on tranny parts. Most of the time you get exactly what you pay for. Cheaper isn't better in performance tranny parst.

--nathan

I also run 2500 or so rpms at about 70 mph. Thats with 3.73's and a lock-up converter. If that gives you any idea of what you can expect? It will also depend on how heavy you are into the gas, or just cruising along.

so are there any cons to running a lock up converter vs a non-lockup converter, and and major pro to running a non-lockup converter

If you're going to be racing the car, the lock-up converter will give significantly better performance down track. With a Lentech style valve bocy, you can bring in lock-up after shifting to third. At that point you've removed all slip from the converter (1:1 drive ratio), transferring the engine power to the transmission in the most efficient manner. If you've got a loose converter, this can be pretty substantial. My converter shows about 17% slip at 7000rpm, so when I activate lock-up I'm going from 17% to 0% slip. ET and MPH are significantly better (like 3-4mph) than if I don't activate lock-up.

AOD Alternative
 

The 99 up V6 4R70W's bolt to a Windsor and have about ALL the high cost Ford AOD type upgrades in them stock. Such as being able to eliminate partial lockup in 3rd without losing it in OD, having OD manually controllable, much heavier duty clutches, stronger shafts and gearset, stronger OD system, wide ratio and manual diode. Combine it with the excellent Baumann electric control (see www.alternativeauto.com for a writeup) and a lockup higher stall converter and good plate type cooler like B&M and you've got a heck of a stout trans without giving up anything. I've done quite a bit of research, email me at macxx1@excite if you would like my notes. Even includes how to pressure lube the output shaft bushing which is a good idea for a highway car with 3.73's or especially lower.

Hey macx, I just tryed e-mailing you. Got my mail returned. Heres what it said. The users mailfolder (user=macxx1) is over the allowed quota (size).

I disagree that a lock-up converter gives you more down track power, it doesn't. When the converter locks up it's not multiplynig torque, which basically runs like a 5-speed, I went from a lock-up to a non lock-up and picked up 2 tenths on ET and 3 mph, it also depends on how heavy you car is, if it weighs less than 3000 lbs, a lock-up might actually perform better than a non lock-up. I'm running a PI 9.5 with a 3800 stall speed.