TC upgrades for the FE446 ??

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Old 10-26-2004, 10:56 PM
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TC upgrades for the FE446 ??

All,

I'm considering getting an upgrade torque converter for the C6 behind the FE446. My stock style TC is working well, but probably hurting me at the track. And I think A little higher stall would allow me to idle a little higher in gear. That would be good for my alternator, water pump and power-steering pump.

TCI makes 3 models that will fit my application. Let me know what you think. I want to be quick at the rack, but I still want to be able to drive it around town and haul a load when needed. My highway crusie rpm is in the 3000+ rpm range, so I don't think highway driving is an issue.

TCI Breakaway Torque Converters $266
Breakaway is a great torque converter for moderately modified street machines and weekend racers also used as daily drivers. It provides approximately 2400 to 2600 RPM flash stall without negatively affecting part throttle driving. Designed for efficiency at highway cruising speeds and to launch hard at wide open throttle, the Breakaway is a fantastic all-around torque converter. 1000+ RPM stall speed over stock

TCI Saturday Night Special Torque Converters $186
The popular Saturday Night Special delivers premium performance at a reasonable cost. A great choice for show cars and street rods, this converter incorpates many of the manufactured processes and performance features found in the more expensive full-competition units. Each one is pressure tested and balanced prior to shipment. 400-500 RPM stall speed over stock


TCI Streetfighter Torque Converters $376
Designed with the street racer in mind, this torque converter benefits more radically prepared street machines (those with performance cams, aftermarket carbs and higher compression ratios to bring the launch RPM in line with the performance enhancements. The Streetfighter lets you take advantage of horsepower gains found in higher RPM ranges. 1500+ RPM stall speed over stock


any help appreciated...I don't want to pull the tranny once, much less twice or more!
 
  #2  
Old 10-27-2004, 07:38 AM
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Greg, it looks like from what I just read..the Breakaway might be the ticket? with the 2400 to 2600rpm flash that wont hurt any other style of driving?

What rpm does your torque start coming on? Because your torque will be doing the work way before your High HP kicks in....

Russ

PS...dont you have a Dyno Tune place in your neck of the weeds? So you can get your hotrod fin tuned on the dyno?
 

Last edited by RapidRuss; 10-27-2004 at 07:41 AM.
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Old 10-27-2004, 10:21 AM
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Got to go along with Russ on this one, and I think you listed it first for a reason I remember riding in a high stall Mustang at one time, took forever to shift when it was cruising through the neighborhoods..

--Mike
 
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Old 10-27-2004, 11:30 AM
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I'm going to go against the grain here, and say the saturday night special torque converter. It should still allow you to do some towing. Remember that the more the torque converter stalls, the more heat is generated. Heat, as we all know, is not good for transmissions.

Really if it was me, I'd stick with the stock one until you get all the bugs out of the engine. Then see if you really need it.
 
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Old 10-27-2004, 02:05 PM
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I went with a 2200 to 2400 in my mustang that was stock and it was great...but i wasnt trying to tow anything either....I'd probobly go with the sturday night aswell, But I dont know for sure what the tow capacities are for stalls.
 
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Old 10-27-2004, 03:51 PM
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Well the Bottom line is..... To gain in one area you going to loose a little in another..

And I dont know about where you live Greg...but I can drive from County to County and never have to hit the brake's....

and another thing is..with a higher stall to get around any kind of heat-up....Just manually shift it...to keep the TC locked up is all... If your towing something around town just use your gears until you can go fast enough in 3rd to keep the TC locked..

And Shoot..as long as the truck has been running..ya only towed some Dirt!! LOL!!

Russ
 
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Old 10-27-2004, 08:14 PM
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Russ... The C6's dont have a lockup torque converter. Did you mean just keep it in the rpm range above the stall speed?
 
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Old 10-28-2004, 04:46 AM
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Originally Posted by rusty70f100
Russ... The C6's dont have a lockup torque converter. Did you mean just keep it in the rpm range above the stall speed?
Ya Kurt, I dont know what i was thinking when I wrote that....It must have been the 8hrs I sat in the seat in my GP yesterday with the 4 speed eod??

But yes to stay above the stall rpm.....
 
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Old 10-28-2004, 11:35 AM
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Something to remember is that the stall speed of a given torque convertor is directly related to the amount of torque the ENGINE puts out. So the same tc will stall at a higher rpm behind a 400 lb ft big block than it will behind a 300 lb ft small block. Just food for thought. I would think the stall speeds listed do not reflect the actual stall speed behind Greg's torque monster.
 
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Old 10-28-2004, 11:56 AM
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Very true. However, with the cam in that thing I dont know how much torque he's making at the 1000rpms that the stock torque converter will want to stall at. Something like the Saturday Night Special (where do they get these names) would move it up in the rpm range enough to where the engine would be making good torque and would probably help a lot more than the 400-500rpm's above stock indicates.

If that makes any sense.
 
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Old 10-28-2004, 03:53 PM
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greg.....call TCI or B&M or ATI and ask them!!!
 
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Old 10-28-2004, 06:53 PM
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guys, I think this motor is making plenty of torque at a very low RPM.. I think that's part of the current problem. It's very hard to build up an engine speed before moving the truck. the cam is big on lift but not so much on duration.

I may call some of those tech lines, to see what they suggest.

Right now I'm busiy planning my trip. I think I'm finally gonne get off my lazy butt and go somwhere. the new plan: a caost to coast celebration of music.

part I; roadtrip to Margaritaville (Jimmy Buffet) in Key West on te motorcycle.

part II: fly to Cabo for a week, and hang at the CaboWabo Cantina (Sammy Hagar's place)

so it may be a while before I get to wrenching again...if you don't hear from me for a while, I'm probably at the beach or on my way there:-)
 
  #13  
Old 10-28-2004, 07:27 PM
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Originally Posted by gtex
...if you don't hear from me for a while, I'm probably (passed out) at the beach or on my way there:-)
I can read between the lines.

-Scouder
 
  #14  
Old 10-28-2004, 07:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Scouder
I can read between the lines.

-Scouder

I get no respect :-(


but, you're probably right :-) I'm pathetic. Let's just hope I don't work on engines I don't own....the wife's a big shot lawyer....
 
  #15  
Old 10-28-2004, 09:10 PM
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Originally Posted by gtex
Let's just hope I don't work on engines I don't own....the wife's a big shot lawyer....
I think I spot an old AC/DC fan.

"She was a fast machine, she kept her motor clean"

Yeah, you'd better keep all your tools safely hidden.

-Scouder
 
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