converter stall speed.

[70ford1]

I have been reading the old posts on this topic but am still very confused--I am looking at a .030 ( thirty thousandths) over bore rebuilt 390 W/2bbl carb--idle speed is around 650-725 rpm's with stock cam. This is a conversion for a 1970 F-100 4x4 360 w/4speed standard trans. I don't need a high performance converter but I also don't want to sit there & wonder if the engine will blow up before the truck starts to move. That is an exageration of course but I want to start moving when I push on the gas with as little rpm's as possible. With an idle speed of say +or- 700 rpm's would a 1000 stall speed be what I'm looking for. I just don't understand "stall speed". Oh I have a stock 9" ford 350:1 diff. & most of my driving will be on-road with 4x4 used only in slippery conditions on established roads. I am not an off-roader & I guess you could say I'm retiring my old "hunting buddy". I just want something easier on the arthritis & won't sound like a jet plane revving up to take off. It's terrible to be this old & still so dumb about things I dearly love to do. Thanks ahead for all your help & info. I guess you have determined that I will be using an automatic tranny--probably a C6 & hope to marry it up to the stock transfer case. Thanks again.

[tnlprt]

just put a stock convertor in it and forget about it

[cep62]

I would buy a stock converter.
A higher stall means more slippage,
more slippage means more heat and heat is hard on trannies.

[Donnie]

Hi, the lower the stall, the less you will have to push the throttle to get the truck moving..this is good if you are not pulling anything or hauling a load...The lowest stall that you can get stock for a C6 would be from a diesel..12 to 14 hundred is about as low as you will want to go. because when you put it in gear it will be rough & the truck will always be trying to pull you at red lites..You may also experience some engine bog on take off if you go too low..Carbed engines especially. EFI is not that sensitive...Efi has a lot more info telling the computer what to do with the fuel, while all you have is an accellerator pump & a vacuum advance...There is no 1000 stall..I've never tried to build one that low..1400, yes , a lot for GM pickups that are being used as passenger units only...No racing or towing or hauling...
Although some Ford gas engines used a low stall conv... Ford only rates : lo--med--hi...
I have written another article on the forum about converters........somewhere.
There are a lot of factors (many) that I need to know to be any help to you. The theory is long detailed & full of tech that you do not need to know to choose..
If you ask me direct questions, I will try to answer them for you. HTH Donnie

[70ford1]

Thanks Donnie---
You seem to be a converter expert so of the Ford ratings (lo-med-hi) I take it that med would be good--Basically, what is a "stock"
stall speed. I know with my luck when I go to buy one they will ask me what stall speed do I want--& when I say just stock will do fine then they will reply--we have lo, med, & hi---which one do you want? 1970 F-100 4x4's did not have automatic trannys so I would like to act like I know something about them even if I don't know squat---You have read my 1st post--given that info what would you put in for yourself? No towing heavy loads--no squalling tires-- just pleasant driving mostly on pavement--- just a factory unit from the assembly line.

[forrestbump]

C6 stock converters stall speed is approximately 1,600 to 1,800 R.P.M.'s and will be perfect for your application.

Sorry, NO experience with mating a C6 to an F100 transfer case, so I'm no help to you there. Others who are knowledgeable will chime in on that topic for you.

[Donnie]

just put a stock convertor in it and forget about it

Sorry TLNPRT, don't mean to sound like a smart a$$, but there is no such thing as a "stock" converter.... .there are stall speeds from the factory from about 1400-------2000...
wanna guess how you tell??????????.. ask the salesman???? Donnie

Forrest is correct in that most fall in the 1600-1800 range, but not all by a long shot.

[Donnie]

I just spent a lot of time writing a very descriptive post answering 70Ford's questions, in detail that would have been helpful to him & maybe some others.....THE PHONE rang & I took the call........AND you system timed out on me,, I type slow & this was a large post.........
NOW IT IS LOST FOREVER>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>......pissed.................Donnie

[Donnie]

I just spent a lot of time writing a very descriptive post answering 70Ford's questions, in detail that would have been helpful to him & maybe some others.....THE PHONE rang & I took the call........AND you system timed out on me,, I type slow & this was a large post.........
NOW IT IS LOST FOREVER>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>......pissed.................Donnie

TO 70Ford1, if you want to send me your phone # & best time to call, I will be glad to discuss converters with you........not annoyed with you, just the system for losing my message..
I am an old man & typing is not my speciality.....

[70_F100]

I just spent a lot of time writing a very descriptive post answering 70Ford's questions, in detail that would have been helpful to him & maybe some others.....THE PHONE rang & I took the call........AND you system timed out on me,, I type slow & this was a large post.........
NOW IT IS LOST FOREVER>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>......pissed.................Donnie

Best way to handle a large post is to type it into a word processor (MS Word, Wordpad, Notepad) then copy and paste into the forum.

[tnlprt]

When I said put a stock convertor in it
I meant put a stock convertor in it

He has a basically stock engine in a 1970 ford 4x4

So the best convertor would be a convertor for a 1970 FE powered 4x4

No reason to confuse the man when the solution is so simple

[Donnie]

I just spent a lot of time writing a very descriptive post answering 70Ford's questions, in detail that would have been helpful to him & maybe some others.....THE PHONE rang & I took the call........AND you system timed out on me,, I type slow & this was a large post.........
NOW IT IS LOST FOREVER>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>......pissed.................Donnie

Best way to handle a large post is to type it into a word processor (MS Word, Wordpad, Notepad) then copy and paste into the forum.

Thanks, I should know that, just didn't realize how long that I was on the phone. Was a good post that many would have found helpful, when looking to tighten up the stall on the 390's
.................donnie

[68shorty]

After reading these posts, the guy is probably still confused. Ford may have originally offered 3 different stall converters, i think we all are aware of some of the over engineering Ford came up with. The average guy is gonna go into Auto zone and ask for a stock converter for his truck. What you're gonna get is a converter that stalls around 1400 to 1800 depending how they're built, which will work just fine for his application, you won't feel any slip with that low of a stall, it will take off as soon as you press the gas. He isn't wanting to lower his stall, he's converting from an manual to an automatic. An over the counter stock converter from the parts store for his application is all he needs, he will need to know the pilot size and bolt circle on the flywheel he will be using to get the correct converter.

[Donnie]

After reading these posts, the guy is probably still confused. Ford may have originally offered 3 different stall converters, i think we all are aware of some of the over engineering Ford came up with. The average guy is gonna go into Auto zone and ask for a stock converter for his truck. What you're gonna get is a converter that stalls around 1400 to 1800 depending how they're built, which will work just fine for his application, you won't feel any slip with that low of a stall, it will take off as soon as you press the gas. He isn't wanting to lower his stall, he's converting from an manual to an automatic. An over the counter stock converter from the parts store for his application is all he needs, he will need to know the pilot size and bolt circle on the flywheel he will be using to get the correct converter.

I have no intention of trying to discuss torque converter's with You Autozone guys....
"There is no free lunch"..."You get what you pay for" & no I am not trying to sell him a Custom built conv, but had a nice conversation with him & answered all his questions...A VERY nice man I may add, & I enjoyed talking with him................Donnie

[70shortbox]

I won't even buy light bulbs at autozone.