I've got my '72 302 running pretty good now. With the headers I notice an improvement in performance over the dual exhaust with cast iron manifolds however it seems a little softer right off of idle...in other word it doesn't really start to put until 2000 rpm. I notice a big improvement at highway speed when I'm cruising along at 60mph and step on it...it feels alot stronger.

I'm wondering if a slightly higher stall torque converter would make it stronger from a standing start. It seems to me that a heavy vehicle with a relatively small engine might benefit from the higher stall because I would be more in the 2000 rpm range when I start out instead of...say...1500 rpm. What do you guys think?

 

Sounds like a good idea, just don't overdo it. Summit has stalls anywhere from 500 rpm above stock and up. It really depends on how much stop and go driving you do, with a higher stall and alot of city driving you run a chance of burning up your tranny. What all have you done to your motor?

 

The motor is stock except for the headers. I'll probably put in a cam, intake, carb. upgrade sometime in the future.

 

If you install a stall you will need to insatll a tranny cooler which will take care of any heat problems.

 

Lower rear-end gears may be your answer. What's your current ratio?

When I had my tranny rebuilt, my transmission guy recommended against a higher stall converter unless I planned on racing my truck...which I don't. The stock stall speed range for '68 was between 1,600 and 1,900 rpm (stall speed measurement is not an exact science).