Hello everyone,

I have a 1971 olds cutlass S with a 350 olds (engine was a 2bbl, stock 8.5 compression ratio, already swapped to edelbrock performer intake and quadrajet, which made a good difference, MSD ignition and Headers), stock cam and stock #7 heads, turbo 350 with stock converter (1200 stall?) and the looong open 2.56 rearend.

The car is running fine, but i know, the 2.56 is way too long. Im looking for better off-the-line performance, so im going to change to 3.23 and an eaton truetrac carrier. Parts are already lying in my garage.

Now i have a few questions:

Will a higher torque converter be better with the 3.23 gears? Maybe a 2000 stall or something?

Will a 2000 stall converter work with stock cam?

Im looking forward to a mild engine rebuild with none - dish pistons to get about 9.5 ratio, cam swap (are there some recomendations for stock heads?)

Im not racing the car, i just want it to have better off the line performance and wake this olds 350 up a bit.

Im thankful for any part tips, and ideas!

Greetings from austria!

 

Yes to all of your questions.

 

Thank you for the fast answer!

Which brand and which stall speed would you recommend?

 

Yes, the stock 1600 to 1700 flash stall sucks. Yeah a 2000 to 2200 stall will work better. You will probably be on the lower end of any converters rating, so choose accordingly.

 

Thanls for your answer, ive thought about 2000 stall too. Are all converters for the Th 350 the same?

Are the no different flexplate-bolt patterns between chevy, pontiac, buick and olds?

 

Get one with the lugs and bolts vs the bolt and nut. There is a large and small bolt pattern. The Jegs 2000 to 2300 stall has bolt and lug, right bolt pattern, good reviews and costs about $130.

 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...4KVBd1QM2yqcPN
This is the converter, pretty sure the pic is wrong, supposed to be a B+M, which are bolt and lug.

 

The 2000-2500 stall would work nicely with all the above. My first care was a stock 68 Camaro with stock cam/2barrel carb. Replaced the trans with a 350 turbo and 2000 - 2500 stall and with stock 3:08 gears it was like night and day off the line. Somehow I kept replacing the right rear tire..... : D

 

https://www.jegs.com/p/TCI/TCI-Satur...47582/10002/-1

Heres the TCI selection chart from Jegs,
Note the big n small block columns on right.

Any high-quality converter is good as long as its stall is as advertised. Coan, B&M, Hughes etc...I like TCI parts. You should consider going through the trans too. Beef it up with a fresh rebuild some minor mods to up the line psi and firm up the shifts. MAW!

 

Thank you for your answers!

I found a shortly used, but close to new B&M 20400 converter in the "german craigslist", will this be a good choice?

thank you for your recommendations!

greetings from Austria

 

As long as your sure it came from a good transmission, that’s probably a good choice. It should have a little more stall speed than a factory converter

Just keep in mind, whatever is inside the converter will be pumped into Your transmission. If it’s full of debris from a damaged trans, your transmission probably won’t last long.

 

Good day,
Ya I'm with Matt.
To step over a dollar to save a dime isn't worth it to me.
Too many unknowns about that kind of used part. It's not like you can open it up to examine it.
A new part will be warrantied and give you peace of mind.
A converter can be considered a safety item IMO.

 

With your combo it will help a bit but not much, definitely you wont feel it..I would spend the money on a decent street cam shaft first.. going from 1600 stall to 2000 is nothing at all. Street cam ,gears then your stall, 2500 minimum. And when you get a converter, don’t cheap out, get a good one..cost you around 400.00 but remember you have to remove trans to replace @ shitty one..do it once, do it right if possible..😊