Stall converters....insight needed

[River Beast]

Just pricing torque converters for my soon-to-be fresh TH400... the OEM replacements are around $70....

I was looking at a B&M 2000rpm stall converter... I know how they work and why, but insight from you all, my friends, is greatly appreciated.

Give me your opinion on the stall converter... good or bad...thanks

[JeepReeves79]

a stall converter is a must if you are running a radical cam.

[River Beast]

I understand that.... thanks... I was looking more toward off-road feasability....

sorry.. should have said that....

[JeepReeves79]

oh, they are great off-road unless you are climbing hills. which by the looks of your rig you don't do alot of hill climbing. :D

[Frank in Norway]

It all depends on how you wheel, and where your engine power is. If you have an engine that don't make much below 2000 a higher stall speed is for you. It allows the engine to rev up before the converter hooks up. So if you like to run the mud this is it. The downside to high stall converters are their ability to control the rig when you are going down steep hills. You will loose engine braking. Also controlled crawling will be more challenging, but doable. Also a high stall converter will generate more heat, so you got to have a big and good functioning tranny cooler. A temp gauge on the tranny is also nice. I myself run a 2200 rpm converter, because my engine has a cam that's slightly on the big side. I've run this in any kind of terrain without too much difficulty. Because I like the power my engine gives me in the mud I intend to keep this setup. This has been with 35's and 3,73 R&P. When I get my new setup running (38 to 42's with 4,56 R&P) I will eventually add a second lowrange to do that crawl thing.

[Rogue]

with the Turbo400 trans you can buy a convertor for the 475 trans. its a heavy duty version of the 400. it is known in the rebuilders world as the RV 400, and also be found as an Alison 540. it has about 500rpm higher stall than 400 and all the "high performance" options ( furnace brazed fins, double bearings, etc ) without the "hp" price. Frank in Norway gave really good advice. I used this torque convertor when I rebuilt my 400 and used it with stock cam with no difficulties, I can't wait to try it with my warmed over/ rebuilt engine :D

[River Beast]

Ok... thanks for the input... now.. I noticed there is a difference in listings for the BOP converter and the GM converter... I take it the BOP is the ONLY choice and it lists the 350/400/475 all in one shot.

If I get the OEM replacement 475 to drop in my 400... what vehicle do I tel them I have?

[Rogue]

i got my convertor from work, i looked through all the listings at www.bulkparts.com (http://www.bulkparts.com) they don't have the 475 listed ( they used to ?!?!? ) i tried searches at different auto trans parts sites also, best thing i can say is to ask for Alison 540 out of 2ton chevy truck, year??? should be anything from mid 70's till early 90's when they started using 4L80E's i'm not sure enough to say if what they have listed for the 475 in a BOP would be the right one or not. i do remeber that on the box i got mine in it said Alison 540, Hydramatic 475 on it, and the guy i worked for called it the RV 400 trans cause they used them in campers ( 1 ton van chassis ) let me know if i can help any more