Torque converter stall

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MonkeyTrev

MonkeyTrev

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i have a 65 Barracuda(2,930lb stock weight) that I’m putting a 360 with an isky cam (465 lift, 2000-6500rpm range), home port job, edelbrock rpm airgap, hedman headers. It’s got 3.23 gears in the 8.75, but I wanna go up to 3.55 or 3.91. Tires are gonna be 27”-29” diameter and about 11”-12” wide. I’m running a 72’ 904. I need to know what torque converter stall you guys would recommend for my combo?
 
MonkeyTrev said:
i have a 65 Barracuda(2,930lb stock weight) that I’m putting a 360 with an isky cam (465 lift, 2000-6500rpm range), home port job, edelbrock rpm airgap, hedman headers. It’s got 3.23 gears in the 8.75, but I wanna go up to 3.55 or 3.91. Tires are gonna be 27”-29” diameter and about 11”-12” wide. I’m running a 72’ 904. I need to know what torque converter stall you guys would recommend for my combo?
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I would contact Isky and ask them what stall and gears they recommend for the cam and then contact a converter manufacturer and tell them what stall speed you need. They will need all the info you gave here.
 
:drama::popcorn:

There is a lot of info on this topic in the search field. usually starts a pissing match. You will find that you need to spend some money on a good one that is custom made for what your using it for. dynamic,ptc,turbo action,ultimate,etc all make good ones.
Also you'll find that a good trans cooler and possibly a different flex plate may be needed.

I prefer to just use what I have or is cheap and run it. Usually because the money spent on a good converter could buy 4 speed parts hahahahaha
Brewer's Performance - Mopar A833 4-Speed Transmission and Component Specialists
 
not sure what you are looking to spend but the converter can make or break the combo. the right converter will make the ride amazing. the wrong converter you may hate how it runs.

i get all your specs together and call a good converter company and see what they recommend.. may cost more but is well worth it..

a couple places to call..
dynamic,ultimate, ptc.
 
Isky 280 hl calls for 2500 converter. Isky 270 mega cam says stock converter will work. I'm guessing one of the cams is yours they both have .465 lift. I have ran the mega cam its a torque monster in a 360.
 
Or you could just run whatever you got. And if it don't work. it'll take about 3 minutes to figure out how much more stall the combo wants. Beats the heck out of buying the wrong one.

On the street, and IMO;
the more gear you run,and the less you weigh, and the stronger the engine's bottom-end, then the less TC you can get away with.
The .465 lift Isky comes in a couple of flavors, a 221 and a 224 @.050
They're both single pattern 108 FTH cams. I'm guessing you got the 280/280/108 version.
In the right engine,this cam will make an incredible amount of low-rpm torque; Insane for a 360. The dump it and go kindof insane.
At 2930# and 3.23s, with a 2.45 low gear,and 28s say, and a 360cid, with that cam,..................I'm guessing you won't need/want much stall, on account of first gear is good to just about 60 mph@6000.
So I would guess the range is 2200 to 3200, and right in the middle is my favorite the 2800. More than you need, but so much fun.
If I called the cam right and you have the pressure up near 165psi with iron heads, Then that little 360 will snap your neck pretty good.

Mind you, with 11or12 inches of treadwidth, and a modicum of hook ..................... then,you could actually use a little more stall, ( use,not need, more). Cuz, at the higher stall, you'll be a little further up the power curve, so it'll make a nicer holeshot: passengers may need neck-restraints, or headrests at the least. .

Mind you, some guys just wanna blow the tires off.
 
AJ/FormS said:
Or you could just run whatever you got. And if it don't work. it'll take about 3 minutes to figure out how much more stall the combo wants. Beats the heck out of buying the wrong one.

On the street, and IMO;
the more gear you run,and the less you weigh, and the stronger the engine's bottom-end, then the less TC you can get away with.
The .465 lift Isky comes in a couple of flavors, a 221 and a 224 @.050
They're both single pattern 108 FTH cams. I'm guessing you got the 280/280/108 version.
In the right engine,this cam will make an incredible amount of low-rpm torque; Insane for a 360. The dump it and go kindof insane.
At 2930# and 3.23s, with a 2.45 low gear,and 28s say, and a 360cid, with that cam,..................I'm guessing you won't need/want much stall, on account of first gear is good to just about 60 mph@6000.
So I would guess the range is 2200 to 3200, and right in the middle is my favorite the 2800. More than you need, but so much fun.
If I called the cam right and you have the pressure up near 165psi with iron heads, Then that little 360 will snap your neck pretty good.

Mind you, with 11or12 inches of treadwidth, and a modicum of hook ..................... then,you could actually use a little more stall, ( use,not need, more). Cuz, at the higher stall, you'll be a little further up the power curve, so it'll make a nicer holeshot: passengers may need neck-restraints, or headrests at the least. .

Mind you, some guys just wanna blow the tires off.
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Most of the driving is gonna be around town so torque is what I was thinking would be better for stoplight to stoplight. Thank you for the info. Those are the full cam specs from isky. I contacted isky and they said that 2200 would be more than enough for this cam. It says in a lot of the converters that the stall can very depending on ur motor set up so I was thinking 2500 would be a happy middle ground.

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That's the mega. It has a nice little thump to it to. I know hughes makes a 2500 street rod converter. Summit racing sells them.
 
I'm saying Isky is dead wrong. 2200 isn't much over a dead stock converter.

I'd say it needs 3500. A true 3500. That means if you are foot braking the car, once you go from 1500-1800 where you are staged, when you floor it it better snap to 3500.

If it's just a street deal then it doesn't really matter.

The two biggest mistakes guys make are not enough gear and a converter too tight.
 
I do not have experience with them. Have buddies that have used them with good results. I think summit has a street master 2500 for $307.00 which is a good price for a street converter.
 
How are you going to stuff 12" wide meats under that 65? Just wondering....if your tubbed. That car is light. A higher stall will put down the power inside the power band and will roast the tires. Id try the stock convertor first. Cant hurt and its only a few hours to change it out.
 
pishta said:
How are you going to stuff 12" wide meats under that 65? Just wondering....if your tubbed. That car is light. A higher stall will put down the power inside the power band and will roast the tires. Id try the stock convertor first. Cant hurt and its only a few hours to change it out.
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Yes I have tubbed the car and moved the leaf springs in. I also installed a shortened 8.75 in the cuda.
 
MonkeyTrev said:
Yes I have tubbed the car and moved the leaf springs in. I also installed a shortened 8.75 in the cuda.
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I`d match my convertor to the cam and gearing, has always worked for me, the cam being the most important. Of course if u got the wrong cam for ur set up--------------------!
 
famous bob said:
I`d match my convertor to the cam and gearing, has always worked for me, the cam being the most important. Of course if u got the wrong cam for ur set up--------------------!
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Are you saying I chose the wrong cam? Because I talked to isky and told them my combination and what style of driving I wanted to do. This is the cam they recommend for my motor.
 
MonkeyTrev said:
Are you saying I chose the wrong cam? Because I talked to isky and told them my combination and what style of driving I wanted to do. This is the cam they recommend for my motor.
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Nothing wrong with the cam. A 2200 converter is what's wrong. Why they told you that I have no idea. I suspect you lead them that way. If performance isn't a consideration than a 2200 converter will be fine. One issue you may find is a big RPM drop from neutral to drive.
 
I'm not recommending what stall speed you should run. I was just letting you know that if you decide to run a 2500 the hughes is a good converter for a reasonable price. Now if you want to spend money on a custom converter they can make you about anything. I have a dynamic 9.5 that flashes to 3800 but acts almost like a stock converter when cruising.
 
MonkeyTrev said:
Are you saying I chose the wrong cam? Because I talked to isky and told them my combination and what style of driving I wanted to do. This is the cam they recommend for my motor.
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NOT AT ALL, JUST SAYING U CAN MATCH UR CONV. TO UR CAM URSELF.
 
Call FTI in Deland, FL. They are up the road from me. I had a custom billet 4200 9 inch convertor made by them. It is very tight at part throttle and feels like a 2500 until I romp it, then hold on! Best $1100 I ever spent. Remember, ALL of your power passes through the converter. This makes it THE most important part of your drivetrain. Do not skimp here!
 
Mopar-Man said:
Call FTI in Deland, FL. They are up the road from me. I had a custom billet 4200 9 inch convertor made by them. It is very tight at part throttle and feels like a 2500 until I romp it, then hold on! Best $1100 I ever spent. Remember, ALL of your power passes through the converter. This makes it THE most important part of your drivetrain. Do not skimp here!
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I’m only 17 so I’m having to build this car from money I’m making selling firewood. So 1100 on a converter is out of the question for me.
 
Hughes seems to be ok. Turbo action is another descent converter. I bought a used dynamic 9.5 4200 stall converter here some time ago from a member. Used is risky but if you do your homework it can be a lower cost alternative. I his was good because he was going ti go 5 speed kiesler so he removed it for the change. Another converter I took an even bigger risk on ebay! Guy said it came out of a car he was going to part out because of rust issues. Worked out fine. That converter is the one currently in my dart. Its an FTI 3400-3600 stall converter.
 
Put a converter in it that flashes to 3200-3500 and runs tight on cruise. A good one might cost in the $500 range.

Brian from IMM put one of my 10" hughes 3500 converter in his car with a 475hp ish engine and ran a 1.43 60 ft. The converter worked fine driving on the street and at the track. I happen to have a really good shelf piece which is nothing more than pure luck.

If you are going to spend money on an auto car and want it to run hard, CONVERTER is not the place to skimp. I chuckle all the time when guys spend 8K + on an engine and want to put a $200 converter behind it. They have a hard time understanding why the car runs so crappy at the track. IMO, a converter is THE most important component in an auto car driveline.

Ultimate, Dynamic, Edge, fti are all places that I know guys got decent parts from.
 
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