The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Converter hype???

I'm looking for a good street/strip converter for my turbo 350. It seems that the manufacturers webpages are full of why theirs is better than the next guys BS. Don't most use stock GM converter parts? The main thing I'm seeing is furnace brazing and deleting fiber washers in favor of Torrington or needle bearings.

Those are good mods for a turbo 350 or a 400. It really depends how hard ( and how often ) you are going to run it on the strip. I have a turbo 400 in 2 of my vehicles, both are running a shift kit and I have never had a problem with the trannys or the stock converters. I am running these behind big blocks, on the street only, I do run synthetic ATF in both units which speeds up the shift.

You might be thinking of running a converter with a higher stall so you can get a better launch, in which case the welded converter will be stronger and more reliable. I am not able to help you with who is the best manufacturor, because I am running a stock converter and haven't been following the latest trends. You will want to talk to someone who has experience with racing in the automatic classes. I would call one of the prominent makers and ask them for their advice. The reason is, because you will want to match the stall speed of the converter to the engine you are running. Be aware that increasing the stall speed on the converter will cost you gas mileage.
Bob

Thanks for the reply. The engine is a highly modded standard bore/stroke 350 with the following:
350M block
Stock crank & machined rods
Keith Black pistons @ 10.5:1 CR
Comp 290B solid cam
Comp 1.6 Magnum rollers
Trick Flow pushrods
Comp mechanical lifters
Ported and flowed Vortech heads w/stainless valves and triple springs (Valve size is stock)
Reworked Holley 750
2" carb spacer
Edelbrock Super Victor intake

It should be a screamer, thus not much low end grunt. It would be nice to run a stock converter but I suspect I'd just lope right through the red lights!!!

I have run quite a few stall converters over the years, and what I can say is don't buy the "cheap" ones. I have either had them not stall to anywhere close to what they were supposed to or trash the rest of the transmission at some point. I ran a reworked Vega converter in my drag car for quite a few years which worked good, but it finally trashed the Turbo 400 behind it. I would recommend something like a TCI. That is what is in my Chevelle now and it works great.
Jeff

I'm currently looking at the converters from Fuddle Racing. They seem to be well liked and quite popular. Hughes is right here in town, but don't seem to be as popular as Fuddle, Yank and Vigilante.

I would think that it would be worth a call to Comp cams to see what the tech people have to say about the combination, and if they have any thoughts about what would be the best stall speed for that cam.
I am putting a 454 together for my 55 truck and I was able to get all the information I needed about the best cam for my needs.
I am running a 280 hydraulic grind with roller rockers, Crane lifters, and single 4 barrel Holley. I will still stick with my present stock converter and TH 400, because it is in excellent condition. I don't run really big tires, so if I happen to slip on the gas pedal all I will do is shorten the life of the tires and make a lot of smoke. MMmmm, smoke.
Bob

Thanks for the reply. I actually know what stall I need, but was looking for recommendations on brands.