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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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What does "new technology" mean?
Torque converters have been around for over 50 years and
converters continue to evolve at the pace automobiles
have. PROTORQUE utilizes only the latest technology for
both the core product and our modifications. Car manufacturers
have spent a lot of time and money in developing vehicles
that meet today's CAFE standards. One of the ways they
have done this is through driveline advances, and the
torque converter is one of the key components in this
development.Many of our competitors use torque converters
that were designed in the 70's; some even use converters
that were developed in the 60's.AtPROTORQUE, we use converters
that have been developed in the 90's; made to withstand
the hi-tech, high horsepower of today. These torque converters
are far superior in design because they have better torque
multiplication rates and are more efficient. For example,
the torque converter we use for our 4L60/700R4 was originally
designed to go behind a 300hp late-model engine that is
still in production today. The question you have to ask
yourself is: What torque converter do I want to use for
my 1998 Corvette, or my 1992 Camaro or my brand new Dodge
truck, or my high-dollar street rod, or my hi-tech import?
Certainly not a unit designed 30 years ago!
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What is stall speed and how do I determine what stall I have now?
Stall speed is a term used to describe the rpm at which the torque converter transfers the power from the engine to the transmission. There are different ways to test stall speed. "Foot brake stall" is when you press the brake pedal and then press the gas pedal. When the car doesn't go anymore or the tires start to spin that is "brake stall". (DO NOT TRY THIS! THIS MEASUREMENT IS MEANINGLESS AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TO YOU AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER!) "Flash stall" is when you, from a dead stop, press the gas pedal to wide open throttle (wot). Watch your tach needle, you will see the needle jump to a certain rpm, that is "flash stall". A drag racing-style trans brake will give you closer to the true stall speed of a torque converter.
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What is torque multiplication?
Torque multiplication is a term used to describe the amount of torque the
torque converter will
multiply. A torque converter is basically a fluid coupling between your
engine and transmission. There is
no direct mechanical link until the torque converter is in lockup mode. The
pump assembly of the torque
converter is directly linked to the crankshaft of the engine, however the
turbine assembly of the torque
converter is not. It is connected to the transmission input shaft. When the
oil is pumped to move the
turbine it is actually pushing the turbine at a higher rate. Each torque
converter pump and design pushes
the fluid differently, therefore giving you different rates of turbine speed .
All of this only means that
different torque converters will give you different torque multiplication
rates simply by design. Our goal
is to design the best torque converter using the highest multiplication rates
for your application.
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What does torque converter efficiency mean?
Once the torque converter does it's job multiplying torque for take off, the
function of the torque
converter is to be a link (sometimes called a fluid coupling)from the engine
to the transmission. Keeping
in mind that the pump assembly and the turbine assembly spin at different
speeds, every torque converter
has a different rate of slippage between the two. The amount of slippage is
what determines efficiency.
This is why auto manufacturers created lockup torque converters. Rather than
having a torque converter
that is let's say 92% efficient, they mechanically link the engine to the
transmission, giving it a 1:1 ratio
or creating 100% efficiency. This lowers the rpm of the engine, therefore
increasing fuel efficiency.
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Why do I need a higher stall speed converter?
Theoretically, for maximum acceleration the stall speed of the torque converter should match the peak torque rpm of the engine. A good explanation for the way it works is this: when you go outside jogging you start to breathe in and out faster and harder. Well the same thing goes for a performance engine. The engine is breathing in and out harder and faster, at a higher rpm. If a high performance engine makes power at a higher rpm, then a higher stall speed torque converter is what you need to put more power to the ground quicker.
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Why is a torque converter the best performance upgrade money can buy?
Theoretically, for maximum acceleration the stall speed of the torque converter should match the peak torque rpm of the engine. A good explanation for the way it works is this: when you go outside jogging you start to breathe in and out faster and harder. Well the same thing goes for a performance engine. The engine is breathing in and out harder and faster, at a higher rpm. If a high performance engine makes power at a higher rpm, then a higher stall speed torque converter is what you need to put more power to the ground quicker.
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How do I determine the best converter for my vehicle?
This can sometimes be a difficult question to give a general
answer to. In many cases performance and driveability
are somewhat of a trade off. Generally with a higher stall
speed you loose some of the driveability, and the driveability
increases with a lower stall speed. Our goal is to manufacture
a torque converter that will increase performance without
sacrificing driveability. The most important thing to
keep in mind, when selecting a torque converter, is that
you want to match stall speed to the engine's power band.
Most cam manufacturers will give you a minimum and maximum
rpm range. This minimum rpm really should determine what
stall speed that you will need.
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Why use a "Custom Built Torque Converter"?
You have your heart and soul into your car. You have spent countless hours planning all the modifications. You have spent as much time making these modifications. You have picked the best of everything. Are you going to call a company that will sell you something off the shelf, because they have it stock, that only kind-of fits your application? I don't think so! We put as much care and workmanship into helping you decide what product you need as we do into developing the product you put in your car. And if that product is something we haven't developed yet, you can rest assure that we will take the time to develop a specific torque converter for your application!
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How do I make a final decision on a torque converter?
Use a company that offers you as much information as possible. Use a company that offers you a warranty. Use a company that utilizes all the technology available today. Use a company that will help you make a decision on what product that you need for your vehicle. And most of all, use a company that you know is building the best torque converter on the market today! Use PROTORQUE.
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Are there any other upgrades that I should consider when installing a new torque converter?
You might want to consider a performance tire upgrade such as a "drag radial" tire. Traction will be your biggest problem. Take for example the testing we did with our 1998 Corvette. After the torque converter swap, we couldn't believe the amount of tire spin. By putting power to the wheels, at a higher rpm, you begin to realize that a suspension upgrade might be a necessary upgrade as well. The only other recommendation is, depending on the application, some performance torque converters create more heat and long term heat kills transmission life. A light bulb that burns twice as bright burns half as long. This is why we carry a full line of "stacked plate" transmission coolers. Tests have shown that these coolers can increase your cooling capacity by 100%.
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Is installation of a performance torque converter difficult?
Again this can be a difficult question to give a generic answer to. In most rear-wheel-drive cars installation is relatively simple for someone who has some mechanical background and the proper tools. In cases such as the new C5 Corvette or a 4WD Eclipse Spyder installation is better left for a professional. In depth installation tips follow and can be downloaded from this web site.
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