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Should I get a high performance torque converter?

Ryansal

By Ryansal
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Ryansal Enthusiast

Ryansal

Posted
Posted

Hello All, 

 

I have a 2018 5.3 silverado, currently have a 6.2 manifold and throttle body, cold air intake, new thermostat, (had high performance plugs until they started misfiring now back to GM), Borla dual exhaust, american racing long tube headers, and a tune.

 

I have a 7" lift with 35" tires.

 

Besides a supercharge or turbo I heard there is not a ton more I can do besides a high performance torque converter.

 

Any suggestions or advice on this would be very much appreciated, thanks in advance. 

lucas287 Enthusiast

lucas287

Posted
Posted

With a 7" lift and 35s I'd be doing gears instead of a converter. 4.56 all the way. Converters are great though but I think you'd get better gains from gears. 

  • Like 2
CajunFries Enthusiast

CajunFries

Posted
Posted (edited)

You can still gain a good amount of HP in NA form, just not as easy as with boost. Cam, a good set of heads and E85 could get you another 100 probably. 
 

If you’re running stock cam, I would stick with stock converter or a 6l90 converter (if you have 6A). And like Lucas said above, regearing would be better in your application. 
 

 

what “performance plugs” were you running?

Edited by CajunFries
  • Like 1
lucas287 Enthusiast

lucas287

Posted
Posted

Unless @Ryansal installs the cam himself - it would be far cheaper to do gears! Ask me how I know 😬  last month the intake lifter on cylinder #1 took a ****** (collapsed like most AFM lifters do). I'm on a TDY in Northern VA and without the conveniences of all my tools and garage, was forced to take it to a shop. But hey, I now have mild ported heads, a BTR Stage 3 cam, and just about every seal/gasket was replaced. Labor is expensive to say the least. 

  • Like 2
Grumpy Bear Senior Enthusiast

Grumpy Bear

Posted
Posted

Converter. Why? Because the stock one has a weak lock up clutch and I'm surprised it hasn't let you know already. IF it were decent then gear first. IMHO-OC

  • Like 1
pokismoki Senior Enthusiast

pokismoki

Posted
Posted

i would swap in the converter from the cts-v or boosted camaro,  and disable the TCC entirely,  if stock stall is what you prefer then order the 2500 converter for the 6l90, and make sure you shim the the converter from the flywheel for proper pump engagement.

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Ryansal Enthusiast

Ryansal

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  • Author
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On 3/20/2022 at 12:25 PM, lucas287 said:

With a 7" lift and 35s I'd be doing gears instead of a converter. 4.56 all the way. Converters are great though but I think you'd get better gains from gears. 

Thanks for the advice, I'll look into changing the gears.

 

Ryansal Enthusiast

Ryansal

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  • Author
Posted
On 3/22/2022 at 4:59 AM, CajunFries said:

You can still gain a good amount of HP in NA form, just not as easy as with boost. Cam, a good set of heads and E85 could get you another 100 probably. 
 

If you’re running stock cam, I would stick with stock converter or a 6l90 converter (if you have 6A). And like Lucas said above, regearing would be better in your application. 
 

 

what “performance plugs” were you running?

HI thanks for the input, I don't know what type of plugs he put in, apparently the plug cables were getting fried by the headers and caused  #7 to misfire, as well as a few others not as frequently though, the guy that did my mods suggested I get a new torque converter that would "feel like I lost 800 lbs of weight  in the truck"

lucas287 Enthusiast

lucas287

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, Ryansal said:

a new torque converter that would "feel like I lost 800 lbs of weight  in the truck"

 

Depending on the combo, yep, a TC can make a huge difference not going to argue that. I've had as big as a 3600 stall and it was a lot of fun. If that's the route you go, custom trans tuning will be important though. You'll need to have full control over when and in what gears the TC is locked up. You'll want it locked up at the very least on the highway. I have mine set up where tow/haul acts like a quasi-sport mode. It holds gears longer and I keep the TCC unlocked the entire time. Much more playful that way. "Normal" mode has lower part throttle shift points and a lot more TCC lockup. 

  • Like 1
swathdiver Senior Enthusiast

swathdiver

Posted
Posted

I would do the converter only for durability and maybe ask for 100-200 more rpms in stall speed.  Increasing the engines horsepower will increase the stall speed without doing anything to it.

 

Gears is the big one when you are lifted.  4.10s or 4.33s or 4.56s are popular, I would go 4.10s to keep the rpms about the same as if you had 3.73s on stock tires.  Maybe 4.33s.

  • Like 1
53boy Enthusiast

53boy

Posted
Posted

I am considering swapping to the ctsv/ZL1 converter also. I have a 16 Silverado 5.3 6l80 full exhaust, tune , 6.2 intake, what’s the stall ratting on our stock converter , and what’s the stall rating on the CTSV/ZL1 converter? Is there really any benefits going  to one of those converters?

Ryansal Enthusiast

Ryansal

Posted
  • Author
Posted
On 3/20/2022 at 12:25 PM, lucas287 said:

With a 7" lift and 35s I'd be doing gears instead of a converter. 4.56 all the way. Converters are great though but I think you'd get better gains from gears. 

Hi Lucas and thanks for all the help, I understand If I get a TC i'd have to get my transmission tuned, however if I change the gears to 4.56 would I have to get the transmission tuned? thanks again

lucas287 Enthusiast

lucas287

Posted
Posted (edited)
18 hours ago, 53boy said:

I am considering swapping to the ctsv/ZL1 converter also. I have a 16 Silverado 5.3 6l80 full exhaust, tune , 6.2 intake, what’s the stall ratting on our stock converter , and what’s the stall rating on the CTSV/ZL1 converter? Is there really any benefits going  to one of those converters?

 

Can't answer that. Just understand that a TC is rated based on the torque of the engine they're behind. For example, a CTS-V-TC might say 2400 RPM, but that's probably based on what 550+ lb. ft.!?

Edited by lucas287
lucas287 Enthusiast

lucas287

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, Ryansal said:

Hi Lucas and thanks for all the help, I understand If I get a TC i'd have to get my transmission tuned, however if I change the gears to 4.56 would I have to get the transmission tuned? thanks again

 

Some sort of calibration will be needed to tell the ECM that you are running a different gearset. Don't think that change is in the TCM. 

  • Like 1
pokismoki Senior Enthusiast

pokismoki

Posted
Posted

running with out the tcc feels like a 500-800rpm higher stall converter

 

if you pull the trans install the upgraded pressure regulator valve, these have been  failing alot on the 6speeds and cause shutter, and burned up components, if you make over 500ftlbs, there is an upgrade for the 45,6th gear clutch from a powerglide kit..  

 

if you like to rev the truck out.... only use 1,2,3, and 4th gear, as 5th and 6th is very weak

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