318 how much stall
Hey Guys, i got a question for you. I got a 318 9:1 compression A904 with a shift kit, set on (Coffee spiller mode), with 3.55 in the rear. I got a stock convertor and want to spice it up. Any Suggestions on how much stall to get on the converter? This is a Daily street car/Rice eater.
I had a very similar combo for my winter engine, a few decades ago.
I installed a 2800 and would never again run anything less in a Daily street car/rice eater.
With that 2800, I also ran, every rear gear in Ma's arsenal from 2.73s to 3.91s minus 3.73s; and 4.30s besides.
My favorite was the 3.73s but not for the reason you might think, lol. My 904 had a shift kit that allowed manual shifting. So I would slam the pedal down, and upshift as quick as she'd take it and not rattle, and wait while the big Thermoquad roared, lol, I love that sound.
So what would happen is as soon as the Pedal went down, the Rpm would scoot to 2800, and pretty much stay there to 60 mph, which as you can imagine with a low-compression 318, takes a really really long time, lol.
For performance, the 4.30s were a blast, but they mostly just traded a gear away from the top to give it to the bottom and with a 2800 stall, I went thru first gear way too quickly. They were not in there very long.
The gear of choice for me was the 3.23s cuz it kept the Hiway Rs in check, plus 3.23s got me 50mph @5200 at the top of first, with tall snowtires, which is speeding almost anywhere in town.
Since you already have 3.55s, I would just leave them in there.
I found the stock cam adequate for my combo, but the stock springs are too soft. Instead of gears, install some springs to reliably get 5500. My combo has TTIs and dual 3s, so it sounds awesome with the 318 percolating to 5000/5200, sometimes 5500lol, thu the big TQ.
Did I say 2800 minimum?, I really like mine.
When I bought it in the late 70s (she's been on most of my 318s), it was sold under the name of, Dirt-Jerker. And that is just what she does. Like a big bungee cord the engine winds her up then, POW!, she hits; and the tires are gone. I love it!
