How do you determine correct torque converter stall?

Vehicle Weight, Engine Size (Hp & Torque), Cam Info, Rear Gear Ratio, Transmission and How the veicle is going to be used. Is that all that's needed to determine the correct torque converter stall? Is there some sort of chart/program that you can plug in all the information and get recomended stall?

Just looking for good info.

The correct stall should be ~500rpm's before peak torque. The other info is just to help assure you get the right amount. Vehicle weight/gear/tire/mass torque can offset a rated stall speed.

Thanks jpierce55!

Still does anyone know of some sort of chart/program that you can plug in all the information and get recomended stall?

I don't, and did a search and did not come up with anything.

If you are looking to buy a new converter, your best bet would be to contact a reputable manufacturer and have one built that is specific to your combo and, its intended use.
Personally, I deal with Coan Racing for my stuff but, there are several others to choose from that make quality products as well.
Here is an article about converters from Car Craft...It contains some good info.
http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/selecting_right_torque_converter/index.html
Hope this helps...
Jeff

Here's two links to some info that I found:

http://www.hardtail.com/techtips/selectingconverter.html

http://www.tciauto.com/Products/TechInfo/torque_converters_explained.asp

I'm not needing a new torque converter at the moment. Just trying to gather the information for when I will be in the market.

Thanks for the information that you have provided. If someone else has more info to add, please do. As this is all good info to have.

As others have said, it's a case by case decision. For pure drag racing deals, they'll try to hit a bit before peak torque and move that number around based on gearing and vehicle weight, small or big block, and induction setup to some lesser extent.

For a street deal, they'll need to know a lot more about intended use, plus the other vehicle parameters.

call Art or Craig at Coan Racing....they'll answer all your questions and spec you a converter for your combo...Awesome people to deal with

I'm not ready to buy a converter yet. I'm just wanting to understand "How the stall speed is determined of a given vehicle?"

So let me ask the question a different way......

With a perfectly stock 460 bbf, C6 tranny and 3.73:1 rear gear .......

What would the recommended stall speed be for this combo in:

Street Driven, 3000# vehicle
Street Driven, 4000# vehicle
Street Driven, 5000# vehicle
Street Driven, 6000# vehicle

Street/Strip Driven, 3000# vehicle
Street/Strip Driven, 4000# vehicle
Street/Strip Driven, 5000# vehicle
Street/Strip Driven, 6000# vehicle

Strip Only, 3000# vehicle
Strip Only, 4000# vehicle
Strip Only, 5000# vehicle
Strip Only, 6000# vehicle

O.k. ???

I just want to learn how to figure this out instead of calling someone to get the answer. Just looking for some sort of logical steps to the selection process.

The only way you will know for sure you are putting all your ponies to the ground is to dyno your engine. With out this knowledge at hand you do not have any reference point to the launch rpm, shift rpm , fall back on the shift etc. You might find where it runs better by on track testing , but you will not know if you are stalling below, over, or on top of your torque peak.

Stalling just below your torque peak is probably not the best place you want to stall at , you want to stay in your higher hp #'s to use your peak horse power and usually over shoot the peak hp by just a bit on the shift. Horsepower is what does the work not torque, not saying torque is not good because it is.

If you depend on a converter builder to guess what your peak #'s are without a dyno sheet that is what you will get a guess. The converter builder knows the science to building the converter and how to change it for different weight cars , but they do not know the given hp/tq of your engine.

Ptc is one of the best torque converter companies out there IMO , Tci is also.

I know if I give someone who builds torque converters all the numbers (dyno, cam spec, rear gear ratio, weight if vehic., intended use of vehic. .... etc, etc, etc...) they can tell me what a proper stall would be.

O.k. Got That.

Now ......... How Do They Do That? :confused:

How does someone take all of those numbers and come up with the stall speed? Is it just from experance? Do they have a chart? Do they plug in all the info into a program and it spits out the answer?

It's most likely all of the above, but I want to learn how to take all this infromation to calculate what the stall should be.

I know if I give someone who builds torque converters all the numbers (dyno, cam spec, rear gear ratio, weight if vehic., intended use of vehic. .... etc, etc, etc...) they can tell me what a proper stall would be.

O.k. Got That.

Now ......... How Do They Do That? :confused:

How does someone take all of those numbers and come up with the stall speed? Is it just from experance? Do they have a chart? Do they plug in all the info into a program and it spits out the answer?

It's most likely all of the above, but I want to learn how to take all this infromation to calculate what the stall should be.
What you are asking would be like asking your favorite restaurant what ingredients and steps are used to prepare your favorite dish....not gonna happen. I'm sure each company has their own formula that they use...have mechanical engineers on staff and...trial and error. I have saw many people send a converter back to have it loosened or tightened up....they don't always get it perfect the first time.
I personally have never saw any type of "program" or "formula" for sizing one and, I'd say there is a reason for that. The companies that make converters have too much time and money invested in research and developement to let that particular "cat out of the bag."

Not being a smart *** but...unless you were to get a job with a converter manufacturer or, get an engineering degree that pertains to the principals involved with the inner workings of one, the steps taken for sizing one will probably remain a mystery.

Thank you Treeyasoon! That's what I was thinking, but wanted to ask.

Thank you Treeyasoon! That's what I was thinking, but wanted to ask.

Most converter companies ask where your peak power is made, I am sure they have some formula's to tie in the weight/altitude variances and all that. They probably don't need a program unless they run your engine combo in a dyno sim. The tightness/looseness is probably a factor of what application it will be raced in. JMO, I may be wrong.

Jay with Broader Performance in Weatherford, TX was very helpful with my new trans and convert. Works great! It shifts so fast you can not hardly tell when it goes from one gear to another. Runs around 180 degrees after three back to back passes. Putting more power down so I am have spin problems to solve.

Mike