converters,converters,converters, which one?

[RBdart]

O.K. A few days ago I posted that my fresh 727 puked and asked how or if it was possible to remove with 2in TTi's. Anyway since the trans is going to be out I'm not real happy with the MP converter that I have (166K 2250-2350). What would a good choice be? The combination is a 73 Swinger 440 with Eddy RPM heads, 10:1 compression, Comp Cam 219-235 @.50, Eddy Torker II intake(I know, I know, a dual plane would have been better, but hood clearance was an issue) Holley 770 street avenger, 3.23 gear(I live in North Dakota, long distance driving around these parts) and a 27in tall tire. Soooo...any opinions on dynamic, coan, turbo action, or any other mfgr?
Pros/cons andwhat stall?
Sorry for the long way to the question, but I'm not a converter expert, so any thoughts, suggestions are welcomed.

[67Dart383]

we are running PTC Converter, It is 91/2 in with billet front 4500 stall , its a little loose down low but it stalls up real well, in fact it may be why we can't seem to use it all coming off the line. Even with caltracs and MT ET dragradials  recently added we have some wheel spin off line.

[abodyjoe]

i love my dynamic.


i would call a few places..  dynamis, ptc and ultimate and see what they each recomend for your combo and intendeduse. then go with the company you feel most comfortable with.   you will be suprised how much difference agood converter makes over that mp junk.

[1968mopar383]

a 3000 would be a good choice for youre combo...all depend on what your planning to do with the car!!!

[abodyjoe]

do youself a favor and spend the money to get one built to your combo and intended use.  stay away from an off the shelf converter.   the converter can make or break a car and its performance.

[dart_451]

abodyjoes right, dont just buy one off the shelf, get one for your car.iv been very happy with my dynamic and they were very good to work with.

[RBdart]

Thanks for all the input. The car is STRICTLY a street car. Hence the Comp dual engery 275 cam, and the 3:23's. I'm just looking for a little more than what I had, and realize that a good converter will make a huge difference. The car seemed just a little boggy from a standing start.  I'll call around and talk to some of the above mentioned places and make a better well informed decision this time. Rather than thinking with the wallet, as we all know "you get what you pay for". Again thanks for the help and guidence!

[fishy68]

I first had a MP 166k converter and like you wasn't happy with it. It would only stall about 2200 at most even though my 360 is pretty torquey. I didn't have alot of money so I went with a PTC 10" rated at 3000 stall and it made a world of difference. I can't say for sure what it stalls because I can't lock the rear wheels down enough to hold with the manual 10x1-3/4 brakes. I can get about 2700 out of it then it pushes the car but I think it'd go close to 3000 if I could hold it back. It drives just as good as the stock one did too i.e. no excessive slippage down low. It was only $250 from CRT so the price was definitely right. I'm sure there are better converters than this one but if you only have so much to spend it's a good deal. Getting a converter built for your application is definitely the best if you can do that.

[guzzimike]

Thanks for all the input. The car is STRICTLY a street car. Hence the Comp dual engery 275 cam, and the 3:23's.   

I'd recommend a stall between 2800 - 3000 RPM for a streeter with your combo...

[Womanator]

I agree with abodyjoe,get a convetor built to your combo.marv

[jbarker]

Brace yourself for the price.  Good ones are $$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!!!
Abodyjoe raves about his dynamic converter so much, he convinced me to get one.  Just got off the phone with dynamic, and they're gonna send me a 9 1/2" converter for my car.
They said the price is usually $695, but they're gonna charge me $595.
Lotta dough either way, but it sounds like they make good stuff.
-Jay

[abodyjoe]

Brace yourself for the price.  Good ones are $$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!!!
Abodyjoe raves about his dynamic converter so much, he convinced me to get one.  Just got off the phone with dynamic, and they're gonna send me a 9 1/2" converter for my car.
They said the price is usually $695, but they're gonna charge me $595.
Lotta dough either way, but it sounds like they make good stuff.
-Jay

  ..   they definatley aren't cheap but well worth the money for a good converter.   

  weather a 100% street car or full out race car a good efficient conveter set up for your combo will be best.   

  a friend that is running a 500 crate motor in his challenger. its mainly a cruiser. has a/c on it and OD. drives the hell out of the car. he takes it to the track a couple times a year to have some fun with it but its a street car through and through. anyway he had a 175k mp unit in the car for years. just put a dynamic in it and as soon as he pulled out the shop he could tell the difference. he nailed it while cruising at 30 mph and the damn thing just fried the nitto drag radials for 50 feet. the car never did that stuff before. he is planning to get it to the track soon to see how it helped there but on the street he can feel a real difference. it should get better mpg too.  we will see later this summer when we do some of our long cruises. 

[steel city dart]

 Are the converters  shown on dynamics web site considered shelf converters , or are they just a basic
example of what they can build ? They dont show a part number . Was looking at the 10"street .

[abodyjoe]

Are the converters  shown on dynamics web site considered shelf converters , or are they just a basic
 example of what they can build ? They dont show a part number . Was looking at the 10"street .

http://dynamicconverters.com/converters.htm


more of an example of what they have.   i have a 9 1/2", djvcuda has a 9 1/2 and my buddy with that 500 inch challenger also has a 9 1/2" converter but they are all set up different.   mine is the loosest because of my set up and 3:91 gears, djv's is in the middle because of his 3:23 gears and kens is the tightest because of the OD in his car. they tweak the inside of the converter when they put it together to match best for your combo. if you check outlast months mopar entusiasts magazine it has an article on how they build it  and what they change to tweak it for different combos.

 best bet is to give them a call and talk to sean.  he was alot of help. explained to me what i wanted to know and didn't pressure me into buying anything. i wasn't buying for a few months .

[RBdart]

Again thatnks for all the information. I called dynamic and they recommended the 9.5 for my combination. I spoke to the folks at Coan, Hughes, and PTC. All of them have been extremely helpful, and informative. The folks at Coan recommended an 11" 2600-3200, the guys at Hughes said a 10" 3000-3500. So I have to make a decision soon, so I can get the car back out pounding pavement. 

[coyduster]

Talk to Frank at Dynamic, he will take care of you. I have been using his converters for years, with a tranny brake and they are great. He can make anything you need and the price is fair, as converters go. A good converter makes all the difference.

[383man]

Definetly call the convertor company you choose and ask them to make you what you need.   And as said good convertors are not cheap.  You can really mess up a combo with the wrong convertor.
That said my son and I both use the Dynamic 9.5 convertors in our street/strip cars and we love them.      If you decide to go with Dynamic call and talk with Frank or Sean as they treated me great.   Ron

[RBdart]

Well for better or worse I ordered a Coan converter. It'll be an 11" 28-3200 stall, and should be fully locked up at cruising speed of about 65-70. Talked to  Craig there at Coan, and he's a mopar guy. He really spent the time to ask all the questions, and too really find out what my driving style/habits are. The 9.5 from Dymanic after talking to Frank was determined to a bit to much for how I drive and where(back to the North Dakota thing, you know 50 miles to get anywhere around here).  So hopefully sometime next week I'll have an "again" rebuilt transmission, and a new converter along with a new kickdown kit from Bouchillon Perf. On a side bar, I was able to remove the trans from the car with-out having to drop the entire k-member. Only major thing I had to do was take the pass. side header loose, and pull the pass. side torsion bar back, the rest was believe it or not was fairly simple. 
Thanks again for all the input and advise, as I have learned alot from all you on this matter.

[451Dust]

Hi guy's ! I talked to Sean at Dynamic and he told me he would recommended a 9 1/2 converter that would flash at 3800/3900 rpm. I thought that was high for my combination which is a 451 stroker with edy's, rpm intake, 10.5 comp, comp cam 545/545 241/247 @50, 750 vac, 727, 3:55, 28'' tires. The car is used for 95% street, what do you think?

[abodyjoe]

it will flash that high but when your driving it on the street you won't even know its there. you will be amazed.  i questione sean when he told me to use the 9 1/2 and how high it would flash in my car. especially since i drive the hell out of my car. i trusted him because a few close friends used his converters and loved them and boy am i glad i did. the converter is incredible. it gives ya the best of both worlds.

[383man]

Yep it will work great.  Mine flashes about 4200 at the track but drives on the street like a normal convertor.  Ron

[steel city dart]

it will flash that high but when your driving it on the street you won't even know its there. you will be amazed. i questione sean when he told me to use the 9 1/2 and how high it would flash in my car. especially since i drive the hell out of my car. i trusted him because a few close friends used his converters and loved them and boy am i glad i did. the converter is incredible. it gives ya the best of both worlds.

abodyjoe whats your combo ? I building a 440 with a hyd 292/501 the rpm range is 3000-6000 . rear gears will be 3:73 -3:91. I called dynamic and they recommend the 9 1/2  3000 with 3500 flash for my combom as well . Will this converter work ok if i shift at 5800? Thank Jim

[abodyjoe]

mine is a 360 with the mp 292/508 cam and 3.91 gear.  i shifted it at 5900 rpm and hit the traps at about 6000 rpm.



  i think what confuses people is the 9 1/2". they tweak the insides of that converter so you can have a few different 9 1/2" converters that all act different.  thats why they ask so many questions.

[RBdart]

Well I talked to the guy who is looking over my trans, and he confirned what I've thought all along. The torque converter is what gave up. He didn't get into specifics but said he cut it open and it was ugly in there. Just hope the Coan that I have just purchased will last longer than 60 some miles. Just stinks that after 8 years of getting this car together, and not ever/even beating on it yet due to the fresh engine and things, that I'd have a converter go south at 20 mph! Better now than on a banzi run I guess. So I'll be putting it all back together this weekend. Wish me luck.