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Switching to a higher stall-speed torque converter can provide the benefit of increased launch RPM and better low-speed acceleration. Once your vehicle is up and moving, though, a different converter will have little effect. Like any other performance tuning variable, converter stall-speed should be closely matched to your vehicle and power-train requirements. Also, a torque converter may not necessarily deliver the advertised stall speed due to differences in engine torque output and vehicle chassis conditions. After-market torque converters vary greatly in their quality and coupling efficiency. However, no converter should have to reach its advertised stall RPM just to back out of your driveway or accelerate in city traffic, as is a common misconception about higher-stall-speed torque converters. In fact, a properly designed mild after-market converter (i.e. 2500 RPM stall-speed) should not feel much different than its OEM counterpart in everyday driving.
Stall speed should be selected so that the torque converter will reach its stall speed just before the engine starts it power-band (when torque output begins increasing sharply). Too much stall RPM will actually slow a car down by wasting part of the engine’s useful power curve. A stock torque converter in an AOD equipped Mustang will produce a stall speed of about 1800RPM, while the stock 5.0L H.O. engine enters its power-producing stage slightly later. Therefore, a stall speed of 2500 RPM is best for most stock and mildly modified 5.0L HO applications. Stock 5.0L Mustang AOD-E torque converters stall at about 2400 RPM, and will provide significant improvements over an AOD converter. Vehicles with significantly altered valve events (i.e. large camshafts and/or huge valves) may benefit from stall speeds as high as 3000RPM or more depending upon configuration and torque curve. In such cases, it is best to consult your camshaft supplier or engine builder for best results.
For AOD transmissions (as well as C-4 and C-6 applications) there are a number of vendors providing high quality torque converters in many different configurations. As mentioned in the AOD section, Art Carr’s converters require use of their special input shaft for the AOD and are available in a variety of stall speeds and sizes. Precision Industries also makes converters in both "lockup" and "non-lockup" varieties for the AOD with stall speeds to order. Baumann Engineering can also furnish high quality custom built converters for Ford transmissions at competitive prices. Before purchasing any torque converter, we suggest that you get objective recommendations from other performance enthusiasts and avoid using purchase price as the sole selection criteria.
As with the E4OD and A4LD transmissions, few vendors have yet to produce higher stall-speed torque converters for the AOD-E/4R70W transmission. However, Baumann Engineering can provide a custom-built torque converter for these and most other applications. In the case of converter clutch style transmissions, such as the AOD-E/4R70W, E4OD and A4LD, we rarely advocate removing the lockup clutch assembly from the torque converter. Therefore, we provide our converters with new heavy-duty lockup clutch assemblies. This allows you to selectively control converter lockup with the Baumannator TCS™ or even external switches if desired, thereby providing maximum efficiency and versatility with no adverse effect on vehicle performance.
To A4LD and Related Transmissions |
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