B&M holeshot or performance automotive torque converter?

crazypete · 05-04-2004, 12:21 PM

Yes, neither of these is a real hardcore converter but then again, apart from my carb and it's intake and some nice, open exhaust, I have no reason to suspect I'm making that much more hp and torque than stock. I guesstimate 250..maybe 260 hp. I chose the 2400 as my stall speed.

I went looking around and nearly had an annurism when I saw the prices of half the converters on the market. I spotted the B&M holeshot 2400 and the performance automotive street dominator 2500 , both around $300 with shipping. Those seemed reasonable.

I went and read previous posts and heard bad things about the B&M, but I dont think I'm making enough power to break anything right now..... I hope =) . All my chips are in gears and weight reduction, more or less. My future additions are maybe some aluminum trick flow twisted wedge heads and maybe some roller rockers (next year). Should I be ok with one of these "lesser converters" and did I choose the correct stall speed for my stang?

crazypete · 05-05-2004, 08:02 AM

Wow! I guess my choice of converters left the general community completely uninspired! =P

tireburner163 · 05-05-2004, 11:23 AM

Try checking out GER. They make a much better convert, and it's only about 75 bucks more.

I'd get a 2800 stall and a tranny cooler.

-Josh, aka the tireburner

crazypete · 05-05-2004, 11:58 AM

A 2800 stall? You think that would be better for my application? I'm 300 lbs lighter than stock (even with the aod) but making roughly stock hp. Would 2800 stall get me into my powerband better? I read somewhere that the converter should be about 500 rpms below your peak torque.... Stock makes torque at 3000 or 3200 for the carbed stangs? Hmmmm. I guess it wouldnt matter since it would have to be a lockup unit and it would be "stalled" in OD anyways so the stall speed would not affect my cruising rpms or efficiency.... I think...right. I'm now torn between 2400 and 2800 stall.

I already installed a cooler as part of my AOD install! I thought ahead! It's decent. It's nylon ziptied into the front of the radiator and it goes 3/4 of the way up and halfway across the front. (Doesnt attaching cooling devices to the radiator actually create a transmission heater?....)

I checked out the GER page and they seem to stock 3000 stall converters and 2000 stall converters but the 3000's are like almost $500. I got $400 buring a hole in my pocket, but it's only $400! =P

blue oval 50h · 05-05-2004, 10:32 PM

STAY AWAY FROM GER

Give Transmission Specialties a try. Good stuff for the price. Ide say your in the 28-3200rpm area. Dont forget, your converter will flash roughly 1k Rpm's lower than stall speed.

crazypete · 05-06-2004, 10:07 AM

Hmm, the transmission specialties stuff doesnt look bad...doesnt look bad at all. I'm gonna get in touch with them and see what they say..

420nitro · 05-06-2004, 11:42 AM

HOLD ON!!!!!!!
Take it from me!!!!! You get what you pay for. I understand that you right now might not be making all that much now but, what about later????
I don't know if you know this or not but, when the converter breaks....it will send what ever it broke threw the transmission!!!!

When the transmission goes it will keep it inside the trans. Something to consider. I got over $1,800 in repairs for my transmission after repeted failures. The converter only cost me $700. So be cautious when you shop!

crazypete · 05-06-2004, 12:14 PM

There must be some way for me to pick up a 3000 stall lockup converter that can handle maybe 400 hp for under 400 bucks!

I built my own AOD from an old @ss 86 mercury marquis AOD core for $150 and a smashed up 87 gt's aod that I got for free (it donated the 'B' servo and the front pump). Add a transstar rebuild kit and some kevlar bands and a transgo kit: I would loose maybe....500 bucks to repeat all that over again.

Do converters explode all the time? You guys are making me paranoid! =) . It sounds like these things break left and right.

420nitro · 05-06-2004, 12:54 PM

You can pick up a good converter for that price used. someone is always upgrading to something better. Just look for the stuff used. When you buy like a used P.I converter or a ATI, TCT,Cone, all of those can be redone to fit your car for a minimal cost.

crazypete · 05-06-2004, 01:06 PM

Where would you look to find the really good juicy classifieds?

This board is clean at the moment. All my friends are car-knowledge free computer dudes prone to saying such things like:

"a car is transportation...it gets me from point a to point b...your car must use a lot of gas....it's very loud"

^- smack!

What website hosts the best classifieds? I live in boston and swap meet type events are unusually rare around here.

420nitro · 05-06-2004, 01:13 PM

www.Hardcore50.com and check Ebay, check the big name race dealers like bennet racing, panhandle performance, larocca

blue oval 50h · 05-06-2004, 06:45 PM

Quote:

What website hosts the best classifieds

you can try corral.net

transmission specialties is one of the better companies

crazypete · 05-07-2004, 08:22 AM

It certainly does! Goodness.

Though nothing there was particularly what I needed, either too high stall or too low. Finally, after 2 days or research and calling up a lot of companies on the phone and looking at prices and what people said about certain products...

...drumroll.....

I went with the TCI street fighter. The guy at TCI sat on the phone with me while he calculated the math and said I should be about 2800 stall right now and about 3200 after my twisted wedge heads. I felt better about this purchase because I had heard of the company and summit stocked their stuff.

Summit's rolling around on the ground oinking in joy at all the money I just spent there in the past month! =P I also grabbed a trans temp guage to monitor my aod so she doesnt cook.

crazypete · 05-07-2004, 01:42 PM

What _should_ a good operating temp for a transmission be and should I have any tv pressure at cruise? Since the pedal is gonna need to be in a bit further for the 4.56's, there will always be tv pressure. I'm more curious about the operating temp for a trans, though.

Everyone have a fabulous weekend!

Crazy Pete....

05-04-2004, 12:21 PM	#1
crazypete Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Boston Posts: 592	B&M holeshot or performance automotive torque converter? Yes, neither of these is a real hardcore converter but then again, apart from my carb and it's intake and some nice, open exhaust, I have no reason to suspect I'm making that much more hp and torque than stock. I guesstimate 250..maybe 260 hp. I chose the 2400 as my stall speed. I went looking around and nearly had an annurism when I saw the prices of half the converters on the market. I spotted the B&M holeshot 2400 and the performance automotive street dominator 2500 , both around $300 with shipping. Those seemed reasonable. I went and read previous posts and heard bad things about the B&M, but I dont think I'm making enough power to break anything right now..... I hope =) . All my chips are in gears and weight reduction, more or less. My future additions are maybe some aluminum trick flow twisted wedge heads and maybe some roller rockers (next year). Should I be ok with one of these "lesser converters" and did I choose the correct stall speed for my stang? __________________ 91 GT Carb conversion, holley 600 double pumper, edelbrock performer intake, FMS "C" drop springs, march 1000 underdrive pullies, crane 1.7 roller rockers, GT-40P headers, bassani x pipe, american thunder catback, FMS 4.56's, msd aL6, trunkmount battery, A/C eliminator kit, 3000 stall tci streetfighter, AOD with transgo kit, A+ servo, 300M hardened lockup shaft, kevlar bands and 28,000 gvw trans cooler, 3 core radiator, 300 lbs stripped with a full interior Last edited by crazypete; 05-04-2004 at 09:19 PM..

05-05-2004, 08:02 AM	#2
crazypete Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Boston Posts: 592	Wow! I guess my choice of converters left the general community completely uninspired! =P __________________ 91 GT Carb conversion, holley 600 double pumper, edelbrock performer intake, FMS "C" drop springs, march 1000 underdrive pullies, crane 1.7 roller rockers, GT-40P headers, bassani x pipe, american thunder catback, FMS 4.56's, msd aL6, trunkmount battery, A/C eliminator kit, 3000 stall tci streetfighter, AOD with transgo kit, A+ servo, 300M hardened lockup shaft, kevlar bands and 28,000 gvw trans cooler, 3 core radiator, 300 lbs stripped with a full interior

05-05-2004, 11:23 AM	#3
tireburner163 It's a lot like a race car Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Meridian, MS Posts: 4,130	Try checking out GER. They make a much better convert, and it's only about 75 bucks more. I'd get a 2800 stall and a tranny cooler. -Josh, aka the tireburner __________________ 1987 Buick T-type 1998 HD Electra Elide

05-05-2004, 11:58 AM	#4
crazypete Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Boston Posts: 592	A 2800 stall? You think that would be better for my application? I'm 300 lbs lighter than stock (even with the aod) but making roughly stock hp. Would 2800 stall get me into my powerband better? I read somewhere that the converter should be about 500 rpms below your peak torque.... Stock makes torque at 3000 or 3200 for the carbed stangs? Hmmmm. I guess it wouldnt matter since it would have to be a lockup unit and it would be "stalled" in OD anyways so the stall speed would not affect my cruising rpms or efficiency.... I think...right. I'm now torn between 2400 and 2800 stall. I already installed a cooler as part of my AOD install! I thought ahead! It's decent. It's nylon ziptied into the front of the radiator and it goes 3/4 of the way up and halfway across the front. (Doesnt attaching cooling devices to the radiator actually create a transmission heater?....) I checked out the GER page and they seem to stock 3000 stall converters and 2000 stall converters but the 3000's are like almost $500. I got $400 buring a hole in my pocket, but it's only $400! =P __________________ 91 GT Carb conversion, holley 600 double pumper, edelbrock performer intake, FMS "C" drop springs, march 1000 underdrive pullies, crane 1.7 roller rockers, GT-40P headers, bassani x pipe, american thunder catback, FMS 4.56's, msd aL6, trunkmount battery, A/C eliminator kit, 3000 stall tci streetfighter, AOD with transgo kit, A+ servo, 300M hardened lockup shaft, kevlar bands and 28,000 gvw trans cooler, 3 core radiator, 300 lbs stripped with a full interior Last edited by crazypete; 05-05-2004 at 12:24 PM..

05-05-2004, 10:32 PM	#5
blue oval 50h Registered Member Join Date: Dec 1998 Location: NJ Posts: 219	STAY AWAY FROM GER Give Transmission Specialties a try. Good stuff for the price. Ide say your in the 28-3200rpm area. Dont forget, your converter will flash roughly 1k Rpm's lower than stall speed. __________________ 347- 10.63@128 N/A

05-06-2004, 10:07 AM	#6
crazypete Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Boston Posts: 592	Hmm, the transmission specialties stuff doesnt look bad...doesnt look bad at all. I'm gonna get in touch with them and see what they say.. __________________ 91 GT Carb conversion, holley 600 double pumper, edelbrock performer intake, FMS "C" drop springs, march 1000 underdrive pullies, crane 1.7 roller rockers, GT-40P headers, bassani x pipe, american thunder catback, FMS 4.56's, msd aL6, trunkmount battery, A/C eliminator kit, 3000 stall tci streetfighter, AOD with transgo kit, A+ servo, 300M hardened lockup shaft, kevlar bands and 28,000 gvw trans cooler, 3 core radiator, 300 lbs stripped with a full interior

05-06-2004, 11:42 AM	#7
420nitro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Rockford Posts: 596	HOLD ON!!!!!!! Take it from me!!!!! You get what you pay for. I understand that you right now might not be making all that much now but, what about later???? I don't know if you know this or not but, when the converter breaks....it will send what ever it broke threw the transmission!!!! When the transmission goes it will keep it inside the trans. Something to consider. I got over $1,800 in repairs for my transmission after repeted failures. The converter only cost me $700. So be cautious when you shop!

05-06-2004, 12:14 PM	#8
crazypete Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Boston Posts: 592	There must be some way for me to pick up a 3000 stall lockup converter that can handle maybe 400 hp for under 400 bucks! I built my own AOD from an old @ss 86 mercury marquis AOD core for $150 and a smashed up 87 gt's aod that I got for free (it donated the 'B' servo and the front pump). Add a transstar rebuild kit and some kevlar bands and a transgo kit: I would loose maybe....500 bucks to repeat all that over again. Do converters explode all the time? You guys are making me paranoid! =) . It sounds like these things break left and right. __________________ 91 GT Carb conversion, holley 600 double pumper, edelbrock performer intake, FMS "C" drop springs, march 1000 underdrive pullies, crane 1.7 roller rockers, GT-40P headers, bassani x pipe, american thunder catback, FMS 4.56's, msd aL6, trunkmount battery, A/C eliminator kit, 3000 stall tci streetfighter, AOD with transgo kit, A+ servo, 300M hardened lockup shaft, kevlar bands and 28,000 gvw trans cooler, 3 core radiator, 300 lbs stripped with a full interior

05-06-2004, 12:54 PM	#9
420nitro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Rockford Posts: 596	You can pick up a good converter for that price used. someone is always upgrading to something better. Just look for the stuff used. When you buy like a used P.I converter or a ATI, TCT,Cone, all of those can be redone to fit your car for a minimal cost.

05-06-2004, 01:06 PM	#10
crazypete Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Boston Posts: 592	Where would you look to find the really good juicy classifieds? This board is clean at the moment. All my friends are car-knowledge free computer dudes prone to saying such things like: "a car is transportation...it gets me from point a to point b...your car must use a lot of gas....it's very loud" ^- smack! What website hosts the best classifieds? I live in boston and swap meet type events are unusually rare around here. __________________ 91 GT Carb conversion, holley 600 double pumper, edelbrock performer intake, FMS "C" drop springs, march 1000 underdrive pullies, crane 1.7 roller rockers, GT-40P headers, bassani x pipe, american thunder catback, FMS 4.56's, msd aL6, trunkmount battery, A/C eliminator kit, 3000 stall tci streetfighter, AOD with transgo kit, A+ servo, 300M hardened lockup shaft, kevlar bands and 28,000 gvw trans cooler, 3 core radiator, 300 lbs stripped with a full interior

05-06-2004, 01:13 PM	#11
420nitro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Rockford Posts: 596	www.Hardcore50.com and check Ebay, check the big name race dealers like bennet racing, panhandle performance, larocca

05-07-2004, 08:22 AM	#13
crazypete Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Boston Posts: 592	It certainly does! Goodness. Though nothing there was particularly what I needed, either too high stall or too low. Finally, after 2 days or research and calling up a lot of companies on the phone and looking at prices and what people said about certain products... ...drumroll..... I went with the TCI street fighter. The guy at TCI sat on the phone with me while he calculated the math and said I should be about 2800 stall right now and about 3200 after my twisted wedge heads. I felt better about this purchase because I had heard of the company and summit stocked their stuff. Summit's rolling around on the ground oinking in joy at all the money I just spent there in the past month! =P I also grabbed a trans temp guage to monitor my aod so she doesnt cook. __________________ 91 GT Carb conversion, holley 600 double pumper, edelbrock performer intake, FMS "C" drop springs, march 1000 underdrive pullies, crane 1.7 roller rockers, GT-40P headers, bassani x pipe, american thunder catback, FMS 4.56's, msd aL6, trunkmount battery, A/C eliminator kit, 3000 stall tci streetfighter, AOD with transgo kit, A+ servo, 300M hardened lockup shaft, kevlar bands and 28,000 gvw trans cooler, 3 core radiator, 300 lbs stripped with a full interior Last edited by crazypete; 05-07-2004 at 01:40 PM..

05-07-2004, 01:42 PM	#14
crazypete Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Boston Posts: 592	What _should_ a good operating temp for a transmission be and should I have any tv pressure at cruise? Since the pedal is gonna need to be in a bit further for the 4.56's, there will always be tv pressure. I'm more curious about the operating temp for a trans, though. Everyone have a fabulous weekend! Crazy Pete.... __________________ 91 GT Carb conversion, holley 600 double pumper, edelbrock performer intake, FMS "C" drop springs, march 1000 underdrive pullies, crane 1.7 roller rockers, GT-40P headers, bassani x pipe, american thunder catback, FMS 4.56's, msd aL6, trunkmount battery, A/C eliminator kit, 3000 stall tci streetfighter, AOD with transgo kit, A+ servo, 300M hardened lockup shaft, kevlar bands and 28,000 gvw trans cooler, 3 core radiator, 300 lbs stripped with a full interior

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