Torque Converter - How are they different? What makes one Good?

**dudeiwin86** · 11-18-2008, 09:22 PM

So im shopping for rear gears and tq converters to help my low end on my fatty cam.
im a 210mm carrier, and not paying another 800 just for a 215mm to get 323 gears. so i wait.
this brings me to the topic of discussion-- Tq Converters--

what makes a converter?
which do you think is best-- and more importantly WHY?????

i will admit that i dont know what makes one verter brand better than the other, aside from i know that some are just tweaked stock units, and some have completely new internals.

what makes one "good" brand better than the other "good brand? (assuming that both are using upgraded internals etc...)

i see a lot of praise for Precision. Some for the newly marketed Edge and some for the Pro Torque(which i now see some remarking on its failures). Also there is the RDP custom, who does that verter really come from? those are the 4 i look at.

why is the edge only 495 dollars and the others are around 700? yet the edge still recieves as much praise.

i know its a bit that im getting off my chest in hopes of recieving answers, but i know that people have a LOT of experience and i expect lots of input.

thanks ladies and gents
discuss

**InferAl** · 11-18-2008, 09:48 PM

You are going to find that eveyone likes what they run and will recomend that TC, so it will really be tough.
I would suggest calling the different companies and talk to them and see what kind of info you come up with.
Thats what I did to make my decision, it didn't matter to me what eveyone else ran I did my own research
Lots of info when you google it

**PaCharger** · 11-18-2008, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by InferAl

You are going to find that eveyone likes what they run and will recomend that TC, so it will really be tough.
I would suggest calling the different companies and talk to them and see what kind of info you come up with.
Thats what I did to make my decision, it didn't matter to me what eveyone else ran I did my own research
Lots of info when you google it

Ditto.

Talk to the providers and ask them the hard questions. Then make your call. Otherwise it's a "this is what i have and it rocks" response.

**dudeiwin86** · 11-18-2008, 09:56 PM

understood, that was my fear... it turning into an intake-esque arguement.... theres obvious good and bads.. but everyone loves their own eh?

well i hope some people can help provide some more info while i start my search

thanks

**InferAl** · 11-18-2008, 09:59 PM

Well 90% of the people here run the Precision and the Protorque, the Edge and the RDP are pretty new here.

**Hemi31** · 11-18-2008, 10:04 PM

I had the second ProTorque built for an LX in my SRT......was in there for 30k miles while I owned it and it's still in there........been working flawlessly the whole time......and I don't think anyone will argue that it was hard 30k miles.

**USCG Charger** · 11-18-2008, 10:11 PM

I'm currently running the RDP 3k stall.... so far so good.... my 60' time are getting alot better 1.73 and my 1/4 is well u can see it in my sig!

**hemituner** · 11-18-2008, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by InferAl

Well 90% of the people here run the Precision and the Protorque, the Edge and the RDP are pretty new here.

IMO I am comfortable with the Pro-Torque simply because I have seen with my own eyes that they are truly modified internally. They are also precision welded and perfectly balanced. Also Joe The owner inspects EVERY custom converter before it gets welded then again before it goes in the box. It is also a family operation, everyone has an interest in a great product. Not to mention they are only 20 min from me. They always back their stuff up if ever a concern.
Hope this helps
A.J. (HEMITUNER)

**hemidup** · 11-18-2008, 10:36 PM

Edge Racing conveter's gets my vote. They have proven the best customer service and proven track results, by far over the past 3 year's I've been dealing different converter companies.

**ForeignMuscle** · 11-19-2008, 12:22 AM

There's a lot that goes into them. Sprag strength, fin design, etc. What it comes down to performance wise is being able to nail the efficiency curve right. Basicly, the way a converter works, is like a automatically slipping clutch. Depending on power output and RPM, it will slip different ammounts. Getting the proper "slippage curve" is the trick. You want it to flash into your powerband without the motor blowing through the converter during it's peak torque, and tightening up enough top end to keep your efficiency up and get you a good mph. Lockup helps driveability with a big converter a ton. Getting the best mix of all these things, is the trick. Who does it best? That's a tough one, since there's so much variance from car to car with these LXs it's really hard to say.

**BuilderBill** · 11-19-2008, 12:54 AM

Originally Posted by hemituner

IMO I am comfortable with the Pro-Torque simply because I have seen with my own eyes that they are truly modified internally. They are also precision welded and perfectly balanced. Also Joe The owner inspects EVERY custom converter before it gets welded then again before it goes in the box. It is also a family operation, everyone has an interest in a great product. Not to mention they are only 20 min from me. They always back their stuff up if ever a concern.
Hope this helps
A.J. (HEMITUNER)

AJ...I'm with you on the ProTorque!
We have seen so may PI's come back or smartly not even be installed because of the large amount of crap in the converters.

I recently converted to a 2800 ProTorque and LOVE it.

Just get a Protorque and be done...this one is simple.
Bill

**metgo** · 11-19-2008, 01:05 AM

I'm surprised with that monster cam you didn't already have a converter.

**Super T** · 11-19-2008, 01:13 AM

The jury (and by "the jury" I mean me) is still out on the Pro-Torque... car takes off really weird (read - not at all) off the line, but I know that a lot of it is in the tune that I still haven't gotten squared away. Pending final tuning, I'll give the converter the benefit of the doubt. Sure doesn't feel good now though :-)

**392Stu** · 11-19-2008, 01:18 AM

I've sold both the Pro Torque and Edge and they are both good units. Without going into a which is best thing. I know both those are billet stators instead of rebent stock ones, fully rolerized with an antiballoning plate and a good clutch settup I believe 5 disk on the Edge not sure on the PT. Besides stall, efficiency and quality of clutch hookup are the main things I look at on converters I know both those are good for both efficiency and the clutches hold up on them as well. Good relative dyno numbers will be a good indicator of efficency and to a point how well the converter locks up. So those are the items that I'd consider when judging a converter. Also one big reason I like the Edge besides it being a little cheaper is theres no core charge and shipping a converter half full of tranny fluid can always be an issue.

**Konvict** · 11-19-2008, 12:19 PM

Only had a stall convertor in an old ford and it was an absolute pig to drive normally and was especially bad on the highway.

I have heard our convertors have multi-stage lockups so they are quite good mannered during 'normal' driving. Was wondering what everyone's opinion is regarding highway travel and everyday driving...whether you noticed much of a difference from stock?