Torque Converter Checklist
Installing an appropriate torque converter in your car requires several different considerations. Although there are many things to weigh when searching for the right torque converter, four considerations are the most important: what stall speed your converter should have, what camshaft your car has in it, how much your car weighs and ways to keep your new converter and transmission cool enough to prevent future damage.
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Stall Speed
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The stall speed is the amount of revolutions per minute your engine needs to hit before the torque converter can overcome the resistance of the car and make the wheels turn. An appropriate stall speed for your car will be between 500 and 750 RPM below the engine RPM that has the peak torque. For stock vehicles, peak torque usually occurs between 1,500 and 1,800 RPM, while modified vehicles can have a significantly higher peak torque RPM. Too high of a stall speed can result in a slower car, bad fuel economy and transmission problems.
Camshaft
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While there may not be an obvious tie between the two, the torque converter can be significantly affected by the specifications of the camshaft. Most stock vehicles have a camshaft that has less than a duration of 220 degrees. This means that the car will have a lower torque range. If your car is stock and has the stock camshaft, stick with a torque converter with a stall speed of 2,500 RPM or less. If your car is not stock, base part of your decision on the duration of the camshaft -- the bigger the duration, the higher stall speed converter you can use.
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Weight
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The weight of your car can affect how high your converter's stall speed will be. The lighter your car is, the lower your stall speed will be. If your car is on the heavier side, the stall speed of your converter will increase. Check with your torque converter shop to make sure your torque converter and stall speed are appropriate for your vehicle's size.
Cooling
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A high amount of heat is created when a higher than stock torque converter is used. To prevent heat problems, install a transmission cooler that is external. This will help cool your transmission properly. An improperly cooled transmission can cause transmission problems and even transmission failure.
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