[bennyjet846]

I'm having a transmission shop install a Heavy Duty AOD transmission to my 1990 ford mustang because i'm planning to increase my horsepower with either tunes or a supercharger. Since i'm doing so, i've read a couple of post on stall converters. My question(s) are, are stall converters a good idea for a daily driving car? I'm not planning to race the car on the drags and i never played with a stall converter before so i don't know how it works as driving one, but i checked out ehow.com and i get the basic of how it works. Is a stall converter safe for the transmission/engine? Can i choose a stall converter even if my car is completely stock and i'm still thinking of what mods to get for my car? and if i do choose a stall converter, how does it work exactly? Does the transmission lock up and you reach to a certain rpm the car takes off? (sorry for being so new). sorry for the lame questions. and thanks

[Scott2001GT]

Q)are stall converters a good idea for a daily driving car?

A) They are not a bad idea at all.


Q) Is a stall converter safe for the transmission/engine?

Yes it's better for you transmission.


Q) Can i choose a stall converter even if my car is completely stock

Thats harder..it's better to know what your wanting to build your stall around that.

Q) and if i do choose a stall converter, how does it work exactly?

When you hit the gas your rpms with jump up to your stall point. You are already moving but your build to the stall point


Q)and you reach to a certain rpm the car takes off?

kinda..its not a transbrake..it still builds to the stall point.

I am kinda new to them also..learning..transmissions/stalls confuse me at times. Talk to Alan at Dirty Dog. He will help you out and explain in detail about stalls!

[bennyjet846]

thank you scott. your response was definitely helpful. my stock transmission blew so the first thing i need is to do is the transmission and i figured, since i'm doing so, i might as well add a stall converter since i have to remove the transmission anyway.

Stupid question but is there a on and off switch for the stall converter since it uses a flash signal when the gas pedal is floored?

I pretty sure i'm going to add a supercharger to the car, i'm thinking around 300-350 range HP, would that estimate help me with choosing a stall converter? i hear 3000 rpm would be decent.

[Scott2001GT]

no there isn't an on/off switch. idk a lot about the 5.0 stalls. like I said man. Call Alan at Dirty Dog and he will set you up just fine

[JBIGBOOTSY]

on a stock setup, a lot of performance is unlocked with a smaller stall, (2000-2400).

[bennyjet846]

hey scott, just want to thank you again. i just registered to clickclickracing. hey jbigbootsy, the smaller stall, 2000-2400 may go with a stock setup but if i add a supercharger, wouldn't the smaller stall screw it up?

[StckFox]

i would go with a 2800-3500
but then again, i do alot of racing

and a stall would def help, stock ones don't stall too high

[JTs03v6]

I say Boooo to building the aod. And Yayyyy to swaping in a built c4 with stall and brake.

[Dirtyd0g]

The AOD has direct drive in 3rd and 4th. Most people choose to eliminate that function because it puts an abusive load on the transmission, not to mention they bang and clunk. It can be eliminated inside the torque converter or you can swap input shafts to use a converter stacked similar to a c6. I answered most of your questions on clickclickracing
Alan

[bennyjet846]

ppl say not to get AOD. are they really that bad?

[bennyjet846]

i have a stupid question. when you say it can be eliminated by a torque converter, mean if i get a stalled converter it would eliminate a direct drive of 3rd and 4th gear?

[Dirtyd0g]

Yes 3rd and 4th would then operate the converter jsut liek 1st and 2nd.
Alan

[horsepowerjunkie]

B&M is the only company that I know of that makes a converter that will eliminate lock-up that occurs with a stock AOD in 3rd and 4th. The only problem then is you have no lockup. Is this bad? Yes and No. Its great for racing, because you still have torque converter multiplaction in 3rd. But if you are highway crusing at 70 mph you have no lock-up so every hill/grade you go up the converter is going to want to flash up close to its stall speed generating alot of heat. Either way I would recommond a large external trans cooler mounted in front of the radiator.

[Dirtyd0g]

Originally Posted by horsepowerjunkie B&M is the only company that I know of that makes a converter that will eliminate lock-up that occurs with a stock AOD in 3rd and 4th. The only problem then is you have no lockup. Is this bad? Yes and No. Its great for racing, because you still have torque converter multiplaction in 3rd. But if you are highway crusing at 70 mph you have no lock-up so every hill/grade you go up the converter is going to want to flash up close to its stall speed generating alot of heat. Either way I would recommond a large external trans cooler mounted in front of the radiator.

Every converter company does it, B&M is the only one tjhat manages to do it and make a converter worse than the stock unit. I see so many of those B&M junk boxes they are pathetic.
Alan

[bennyjet846]

so what's a good company to buy a good stall converter? i'm going with what alan recommended, the 2800. would i still need a bigger transmission cooler line regardless of what stall converter i get in there?

[bennyjet846]

what do you mean by lockup?

[Dirtyd0g]

Lockup is a function of a torque converter that has a clutch giving it a 1:1 ratio for cruising. The Aod is special because it utilizes a direct drive system that keeps the converter bypassed (some call this lockup) in 3rd and 4th gears.
Alan

[bennyjet846]

but i don't want it to be bypassed because it would puts a lot of strain on the transmission right?

[horsepowerjunkie]

You don't have to eliminate it. You can buy stall converters that retain the lock up feature. But as soon as the trans shifts into 3rd gear, it locks up and you don't have torque converter multiplaction like you do in 1st and 2nd! It kinda bogs the motor when it shifts into 3rd.

[Dirtyd0g]

Actually the direct drive puts allot of strain on the transmission. A converter will absorb the impact of a shift.
Alan