Having the TH400 built and he wants to know what torque converter to use. Car is a 1964 Cutlass with 3.50 9” rear. Engine is an aluminum head/intake 455 bored to 461, 870 cfm Holley. The cam specs are 0.496 intake, 0.520 exhaust, 1400-5800 rpm range.


I was thinking a 2000-2200 rpm stall would be a good converter for a street car. Does anyone have any suggestions for brands of converters or if I should consider a different stall speed?


Thanks.

 

You might be happier with a 2800-3200 converter. You have to remember you're moving long before your stall speed unless power braking it. Let that torque work for you.

 

Is there a particular brand that is a good value? I'm trying to search on Summit & Jegs and they all seem similar but the prices vary greatly.

 

Coan is the best place to go.

 

Just my own opinion but if your car is really just a street car and you don't intend to race it, I would stick to a 2000-2200 or 2200-2400 stall on your converter. On a heavy car with a big block olds it will flash at the top of those ranges. It does not look like you have a very big(long duration) cam so most of your torque will be made down low in the rpm band.
I currently have a 2200-2400 stall in my car with a 455 bbo with a mild roller cam(215/224 dur. @ .050 .534/.532 lift), edelbrock heads and a 200-4R with 3.42 gears. It blows the tires off if I hit half throttle. Because of my mild cam it is all done by 5000 rpm but it is a blast on the street. Higher stall speeds on the street equate to more "slippage" in the converter which leads to more heat.

Hope everything works out well for you.

 

Have you tried contacting one of the TC manufacturers?? Every car/engine is different and what might be best for me may not work for you.
Call Hughes, give them the specs and ask what they recommend. I am running their 2500 HD converter and I'm very happy with it.

 

Hughes, Coan, B&M, TCI...Have look at Jegs. They also provide a chart for general selection criteria. Further Qs can be directed at the manufacturers tech line.
I have a 70 W30 spec cam, 11:1 comp, 400HP, 400G/TH400 set up in an otherwise stock restored 68 with a 308:1 limited slip. I have TCIs Breakaway...2400-2600. Couldnt be happier. Car stands up on the converter and lights the tires at will. I have TCIs street/strip semi-auto TH400 too. Shifts hard. Would be even harder with less stall but it barks in both up-shifts. Im also running TCIs clear full synthetic fluid with a hidden cooler. My only complaint has nothing to do with the converter. I need a 4th gear. A GV OD in in the future. Then 391s as I need to move up to 15" wheels n tires.

 

I did contact most of the major TC makers. Hughes suggested their GM25BPO which would stall around 2600 rpm. TCI suggested 241500-A which appears to be their Saturday Night Special with about a 2000 rpm stall. Coan hasn't yet responded. I am leaning towards the Hughes right now.