Ive never owned an automatic worth a damn so Ive never had a clue about those funny looking stall converters. I have an 03 Silverado 5.3 and Im looking for something a little mild, but enough to make a decent difference.


I'd say what I think stalls do, but Im sure Im way off so I wont even waste my time. Any help/links are appreciated!

 

alright..basically a stall enables a automatic transmission to slip to a certain rpm..like reving it in neutral like a manual.

good streetable stall goes from anywhere to 2000-3000..alot of guys are running 3000 stalls around here with a big cam...if you want something mild meet half way with a 2600. Also recommend getting a mild cam if your gonna be doing a stall...performance will leap bounds.

 

2600 is a very mild stall. i have one and recomend atleast a 3000. 2600 acts too stock for me.

 

Another relevant issue is heat. With the increased "slip" inherent in a higher stall speed, you will generate more trans killing temps, so an external cooler (or a bigger one) is usually recommended. This goes double if you tow with your truck. Generally, all else being equal, higher stall speeds = higher temps.

 

So it basically makes the car idle higher? Or can you still run it at stock rpm's while dd'ing it.

 

Idle isn't changed. On acceleration it will allow the engine to spin up to a higher rpm before pulling. At the higher rpm, the engine is making more power, thus a stronger launch.

Make since?

 

Cruising down the highway will not change either. When the converter locks up, the fluid coupling changes to a mechanical link, so changing the stall speed only makes a difference during acceleration or at lower speeds/gears where the converter is unlocked.

 

A torque converter is a fluid coupling/pump linking the engine to the transmission. The higher the stall speed, the more the engine builds rpms before applying pressure to engage the transmission (driveline). Every torque converter has a stall speed. That is why, in an automatic, while in gear, the vehicle does not stall out when you come to a complete stop.

 

think of it like a mac truck you hear on the road. When it's at a stoplight and the light turns green, you hear its engine acccelerate but it doesn't go anywhere until a certain rpm is acheived. A stall is just like this. Under mild acceleration it won't go to it's rated rpms(lets say a 3k stall) it might go to 2200 before you feel your truck start to move.

 

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/torque-converter.htm