Silly Torque Convertor idea

[sandawgk5]

So I was watching a wheelin vid today and an idea popped into my head. I think it will mainly only work for manual valve body autos. The idea is having a manual lock up of the convertor that is basically always locked. The catch is there is a manual switch to unlock it and also the flowpath if you will is routed through the brake light switch. That way your auto will have the "feel" of a manual without a clutch but when you press the brake to stop the convertor will unlock and not bog down your motor. I think it will also have an added benefit of compression braking.

I am sure someone has already thought of this but I did not find anything by searching. It might also not really be necessary as I know some manual valve bodies have compression braking in the valve body.

Just an idea in my head. Let me know what you think or any flaws in my thinking.

Dik

 

[Blue85]

Torque converters are neat. The "slip" is not just friction like a clutch, it multiplies the torque from the engine. If you lock it most of the time acceleration will suck. You could make up for this with lower gears, but then you get high rpms on the highway.

On the TBI trucks, you can lock the torque converter manually just by wiring in a switch or jumping two terminals on the ALDL connector.

The torque converter and your clutches will last longer if you keep it unlocked during shifts.

 

[sandawgk5]

Torque converters are neat. The "slip" is not just friction like a clutch, it multiplies the torque from the engine. If you lock it most of the time acceleration will suck. You could make up for this with lower gears, but then you get high rpms on the highway.

On the TBI trucks, you can lock the torque converter manually just by wiring in a switch or jumping two terminals on the ALDL connector.

The torque converter and your clutches will last longer if you keep it unlocked during shifts.

Guess I should have specified for offroad rigs. I would put a switch around the brakelight switch that way if you did drive it on the road it would work normally.

Dik

 

[Hossbaby50]

From what I was told about lockup converters is the lockup section of the converter isnt all that strong so if you are manually locking it up and applying alot of power to it you will do damage to the converter.

Lockup converters are only really designed to get you more gas mileage and keep the heat of the trans down some. Normally once you apply even moderate power to pass someone or climb a grade it unlocks. Lockup converters generally only lockup in the top gear for highway cruising.

Harley

 

[6.2Blazer]

From what I was told about lockup converters is the lockup section of the converter isnt all that strong so if you are manually locking it up and applying alot of power to it you will do damage to the converter.

Lockup converters are only really designed to get you more gas mileage and keep the heat of the trans down some. Normally once you apply even moderate power to pass someone or climb a grade it unlocks. Lockup converters generally only lockup in the top gear for highway cruising.

Harley

Yep, you pretty much have everything in the above post that I was going to say. I have heard of people using this method, and I think somebody like B&M make manual lock up kits. They can be effective for compression braking, you just have to be careful how/when you manually lock it up otherwise you can hurt the lock up mechanism. Regarding the switch on the brake, all lock up converters I have seen already have a switch that automatically disengages the lock up when you hit the brakes.

 

[sandawgk5]

Yep, you pretty much have everything in the above post that I was going to say. I have heard of people using this method, and I think somebody like B&M make manual lock up kits. They can be effective for compression braking, you just have to be careful how/when you manually lock it up otherwise you can hurt the lock up mechanism. Regarding the switch on the brake, all lock up converters I have seen already have a switch that automatically disengages the lock up when you hit the brakes.

That is run through the computer though I was thinking more of a non computer controlled thing.

It sounds like a bad idea though due to the inherent weakness in the hub assembly of the convertor.

Just something that popped into my head.

Dik

 

[dyeager535]

The weakness is in the clutch of the converter. If you do some searching about the Buick GN's, you'll find people that lock the converters up while drag racing, IIRC it did help, but is hard on the converters. The converter only locks up in cruise because there isn't much force on it. This is why they are designed to unlock/stay unlocked under load and during shifts. There is only one clutch, and it's not much holding power compared to the multiple clutches used for each actual gear in the transmission.

TH400's could be had with "switch pitch" converters (Olds only IIRC) and I was told that Vega's or something along that line had converters that were mechanically locked, not hydraulically. (real word? lol)

 

[SCOOBYDANNN]

there is a guy here that does this to converters-mainly 400

its called a switch pitch, they use them in drag racing too

 

[sandawgk5]

I thought I had a new idea i guess not .

Thanks for the education. I thought there was more to a convertor clutch than just 1 disc. In my head I pictured something more like a detroit with teeth.

Dik

 

[BoondocK5]

If you can take an automatic tranny class at the local Community college, I did, and learned alot. To answer your question yes you could do this , But, you would have to have a special converter built with a huge friction plate built into it in the front of the turbine/stator section stock ones are pretty weak. there is a place here in SLC that can build you what ever you want. It just costs money. I can't remember the name. but I know where it is.

 

[Blue85]

The variable pitch torque converters could change the "stall speed" to allow better acceleration or fuel economy than you get get with just one speed. Nifty, but made obsolete by the lockup converter.