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Torque converters

4x4blaze

4x4blaze

That's not going to work
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What's up fellas, Am sorta new to the automatic world and was wondering what converters some of you guys like to run and may have experience with.

I will be running a TCI maximizer 700r4 with a 500 or so hp small block in front of it. This truck will spend most time on pavement and it will get plenty of highway miles on it since I do like to go on trips. Maybe an occasional dirt drag, but mainly just an all around driver and truck to romp around town in.

Believe I will be running a 2200 - 2500 stall with lockup, but would like to hear some of your opinions and how you guys have your trucks setup.

Thanks!

Shane
 
Forgot to mention, I will be also running 4.11 gears with 33" tires
 
Not too helpful on what RPM you want, but seems high for street on a truck

I will say I had good luck with PTC converters in Alabama and Continental in Inglewood CA
 
Running 500hp sbc in front of a th350 with 4.88 and 35". Put a Hughes racing RV tc in which will be better for crawling and off road (traction) but most times I wish it had at least 500rpm higher stall just to get better into the hp curve for street driving. Just keep in mind more stall=more heat and that's death of an automatic. Side note I hope that 700r4 is somewhat built for that hp, in my experience even a well built 700r4 will turn into lunch behind those numbers.
 
SpeedlabDan said:
Running 500hp sbc in front of a th350 with 4.88 and 35". Put a Hughes racing RV tc in which will be better for crawling and off road (traction) but most times I wish it had at least 500rpm higher stall just to get better into the hp curve for street driving. Just keep in mind more stall=more heat and that's death of an automatic. Side note I hope that 700r4 is somewhat built for that hp, in my experience even a well built 700r4 will turn into lunch behind those numbers.
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They say its rated to 550. So I am a little close, but I dont plan on going out and really dig racing it either.. I just love having overdrive so that's something I'm really not willing to give up since I enjoy taking it on trips every now and then.

The ultimate idea would to just go ahead and get a 4l80, but man, that would leave quite a dent in the budget!
 
Yea I considered the 4l80e conversion for this too but changing all driveshafts and adapters and tcm's I just figured I'd deal with the lack of OD.
Dispite the guesstimate of hp rating on a trans build we had at least two full professional built 700's behind my uncle's 86 k5 with the same power used mainly on the street and not really raced. They just aren't stout enough. And with that much power who can resist the skinny pedal even on a Saturday night cruise. If the power is there it usually gets used! :saweet:
 
Why don't you just run a Turbo-400. Who needs over-drive when you plan on going racing with a 500-HP engine. Like what was said about the 700R...I have seen more posts about the 700R blowing up, even when it is supposed to be built for horse power, than any other transmission I have ever seen.
 
^^^this^^^

I don't know why anyone would want to run a 700R4... They are a pile... Right along side the 4L60e...

I get the whole overdrive deal, but I really believe the T-400 was the last non computer controlled trans that was built to survive the real world of 4x4's...the only one that even comes close in survivability is the 4L80e..
and I would only consider using one of those if it was converted to full manual.

hell, I'd take a T-350 before I would go with a 700R4... The T-350 can be built pretty strong in the average guys garage with basic hand tools and info found on Google.
First one I built was many years ago with a B&M master kit and absolutely no knowledge of how to do it. I followed the instructions in the little booklet that was packaged in the kit, and it turned out perfect!
 
1-ton said:
Why don't you just run a Turbo-400. Who needs over-drive when you plan on going racing with a 500-HP engine.
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That's where you're wrong kiddo! This truck is being built as a DRIVER. I'm not taking it to the dunes or dirt drags every weekend. I just want this thing to be a reliable driver. That's built pretty nasty.;) I plan to be driving it to my vacation home multiple weeks out of the summer. Will not be all that rare of an occurrence to rack up 600 miles in a single weekend. And then go to the dirt drags and give her the beans the weekend after!
 
4x4blaze said:
That's where you're wrong kiddo! This truck is being built as a DRIVER. I'm not taking it to the dunes or dirt drags every weekend. I just want this thing to be a reliable driver. That's built pretty nasty.;) I plan to be driving it to my vacation home multiple weeks out of the summer. Will not be all that rare of an occurrence to rack up 600 miles in a single weekend. And then go to the dirt drags and give her the beans the weekend after!
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Back in the early 80's I had a 1970 SS Chevelle (with a T400) that was pushing the 500 HP range. Since it was regular weekend cruiser, and I was driving it to the drag race track and back home, I only ran it all out hard a couple of times. I did not want to have it get home on the back of a tow truck because I blew the drive shaft or axle out of it launching it off the line at 3000 RPM.

P.S. I lived in St. Louis when the Blues went to the Stanley cup the first time. The Cardinals went to the World Series that same year too with Bob Gibson pitching. That is how much of an old fart I am.
 
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1-ton said:
I have seen more posts about the 700R blowing up, even when it is supposed to be built for horse power, than any other transmission I have ever seen.
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& Yes, it is no secret that the 700 has plenty of it's own flaws within its design. They came in vehicles that made maybe 300 horsepower during the worst point in time in performance for all cars. And then you have people with built up 454's who cheap out on a transmission and run a garage built or cheaply built 700 and wonder why it did not hold up....

Performabuilt builds a 700r4 that's really not much of a 700r4 besides the casing. 5 pinion planetary instead of 4, priority oiling, billet sleeve over clutch drum, stronger sun shell, etc etc etc. Lots of changes and improvements.

They rate it to 700 wheel and there are lots of guys running in the 9's with this tranny. Have been doing a lot of research lately and have heard many positive reviews
 
There lots of guys running a lot faster with 2 speed powerglides behind blown big blocks too.

Doesn't mean they belong in a 4x4....

There are hundreds of stories on CK5 of those that have tried and failed with high dollar 700r4's and 4L60e 's .... some 2 or 3 times... I don't get it, but to each their own I guess... it's their money, not mine... :waytogo:

I just know what works for me....:D
 
1-ton said:
Back in the early 80's I had a 1970 SS Chevelle (with a T400) that was pushing the 500 HP range. Since it was regular weekend cruiser, and I was driving it to the drag race track and back home, I only ran it all out hard a couple of times. I did not want to have it get home on the back of a tow truck because I blew the drive shaft or axle out of it launching it off the line at 3000 RPM.

P.S. I lived in St. Louis when the Blues went to the Stanley cup the first time. The Cardinals went to the World Series that same year too with Bob Gibson pitching. That is how much of an old fart I am.
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Hahaha, yeah, tow trucks arent all that fun... Been there a few times....:surepal: & Wow, I'm sure that was a fun car! You guys (coming from a 22 year old) dont realize how lucky you were growing up around that time... All the good stuff was still being driven around! & Did you go to gateway or MAR? I'm more of a hot rod guy than a 4 wheeler, I just have a big soft spot for K5's...:dunno: Have a 1st gen Camaro that gets driven a ton too, but is apart at the moment

& Did you live in St. Louis? Pretty cool that we got defeated by Boston, and then came back all these years later and got even! That was just a little bit before my time lol
 
wasted wages said:
There lots of guys running a lot faster with 2 speed powerglides behind blown big blocks too.

Doesn't mean they belong in a 4x4....

There are hundreds of stories on CK5 of those that have tried and failed with high dollar 700r4's and 4L60e 's .... some 2 or 3 times... I don't get it, but to each their own I guess... it's their money, not mine... :waytogo:

I just know what works for me....:D
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Yeah, in strictly race applications. Overdrive is completely pointless unless your running in a standing mile. But I cannot stand spinning 3k all the time just to stay up with traffic. No desire.

& Well it looks like I'll be the 101st to give it a shot! If I destroy it, then you can tell me that you told me so, and I'll get a 4l80. But I'm feeling confident so we'll see!
 
Transmissions care more about torque than HP.
 
@4x4blaze I am looking forward to your build and the results with a 700R4. I had an old friend build on for my '70 K10 that has a mild roller cam big block. It was built in '97 but I only have 43K on it. No problems. Mine doesn't have the rev kit in the clutch packs, but my cam doesn't pull hard past 5200 anyway, so I am below the recommended RPM for the kit.
I have 4:56 gears in that truck, and ran 33's for years. But I don't run it on the interstate much at all. It was noticable when I put the 35's on. I had 4:10s and 33's under my '90 Jimmy for a while and liked how it performed with a tired 350. But that truck never saw 75 mph with those gears. It ran fine at 80 with the 3:73s and 33s though. Just never got decent mileage.. big surprise..
 
Another of those who would recommend a different trans. For the cost to build a 700r4 to actually, reliably, survive 500hp and an estimated 500ft/lbs of torque (torque, weight, and heat kill trans) you could go to a 4L80e and not even begin to stress the trans.

For converter stall and lockup speeds that will depend on what rpm your torque comes in.
 
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